Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sacked Sarfaraz Ahmed from captaincy in Tests and T20Is. The cricket board made the announcement on Friday.
Sarfaraz not only lost his captaincy, but he has been dropped from both the Test and T20I sides.
The PCB appointed Azhar Ali to lead the side in Test matches, while Babar Azam has been appointed the new T20I captain.
“There is no bigger honour than to captain the Pakistan national cricket team in the pinnacle format of the game,” Azhar Ali said after being made captain.
Azhar Ali has been made the Test captain for the World Test Championship in the 2019-20 season, while Babar Azam will lead the side in the shortest format shortest until next year’s ICC T20 World Cup Australia 2020.
Pakistan are scheduled to tour Australia for a three-match T20I series and two match Test series.
The outing going skipper, Sarfaraz Ahmed has been dropped from both the squads “due to the drop in his overall form during the past few series”.
“It has been an honour to lead Pakistan at the highest level. I want to thank all my colleagues, coaches and selectors who have helped me in this journey. My good wishes are with Azhar Ali, Babar Azam and the Pakistan cricket team, and I hope they will continue to grow stronger and stronger,” Sarfaraz said after the PCB announcement.
In a statement the PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani said, “I want to congratulate Azhar Ali and Babar Azam on their elevations to the most coveted and prestigious jobs in cricket. It is a reward for their continued hard work in strive for excellence and I am sure they, like their predecessors, will make the country proud with their performance, leadership and sportsmanship.
“It has been a difficult decision to drop Sarfaraz Ahmed, who has performed well as a player and a leader. But, his loss in form and confidence is visible and, in the best interest of the team, it has been decided to leave him out and provide him the opportunity to reflect and regroup himself and try to reclaim his form away from international cricket.
“Sarfaraz Ahmed’s contributions are second to none and being the gutsy cricketer and fighter that we all know he is, I have no doubts he will be back in Pakistan colours at some stage.”
The PCB have not named captain for the ODI format now, mostly because Pakistan won’t play any ODI match until July next year.
Source : Various