Decision on Azhar’s captaincy will be taken after Australia ODIs, says Shaharyar

PCB chairman believes team’s fielding performance in fourth ODI was below par

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has said that the decision regarding Azhar Ali’s captaincy will be taken once the ODI series against Australia will comes to an end.

His comments came after the Men in Green lost the ODI series following thrashing in the fourth match, where hosts defeated them by 86 runs at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday.

“I don’t want to talk about Azhar Ali in the middle of the series,” said Shaharyar while talking to the Daily Express. “We will decide about the captaincy once the ongoing series finishes.”

The 82-year-old also said that the team’s performance, especially in the fielding department, was below par. “Team’s performance was extremely poor, especially in the fielding department,” he said. “In the third ODI, the fielders missed some chances, but in the fourth match they dropped five catches. How can you expect [Pakistan] to win a match with that performance?”

While talking about Test captain Misbahul Haq’s future, Shaharyar said the decision lies with the 42-year-old, but also reiterated that the board wishes for a fitting send off for the country’s most successful captain in the five-day format.

“We have left the decision of retirement on Misbah, as he can decide what’s best for him,” he said. “There is still some time left before the start of the new series. We are not thinking on the lines of giving him a farewell match, but he is our most successful captain in the Test format, so we want to give him a fitting send off.”

Shaharyar also backed the selection committee working under the leadership of former captain Inzamamul Haq, and further revealed that he hopes a team of youngsters would be selected for the upcoming West Indies tour.

“Winning or losing is a part of the game, but you cannot put the blame on one person or one department,” he said. “Team’s preparation was not up to the mark, which is why I believe we lost badly in New Zealand and Australia.

“There is domestic cricket going on, and then Pakistan Super League (PSL) is also coming up. So we are hopeful of sending a team full of youngsters on the West Indies.”