Sports

New ODI captain Sarfraz likely to lead in all three formats

Move comes after team's dismal performance in Australia

Nabil Tahir/Sports Desk February 09, 2017

Sarfraz will take over with immediate effect. PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed has been named as ODI captain after Azhar Ali decided to step down from the role on Thursday.

Sarfraz, who has impressed while leading Pakistan Super League (PSL) side Quetta Gladiators as well as the Pakistan T20I team, will take over with immediate effect; meaning that he will be captaining the side in Pakistan’s next assignment to the West Indies.

That series may well decide which of the two sides will directly qualify for the next World Cup in England.

Hafeez dismisses speculation he is after permanent captaincy; backs Azhar Ali

"Azhar Ali decided to step down from ODI captaincy and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management has decided to make Sarfraz Ahmed as the next ODI captain," a Pakistan Cricket Board official told The Express Tribune.

"The PCB management including Chairman and Executive committee member are present in Dubai for opening of PSL where they have decided to give ODI captaincy to Sarfraz who have been a successful captain in T20 format," he added.

Moin blasts Azhar, says he doesn’t deserve to be captain

There had been calls from several quarters to sack Azhar, who replaced Misbahul Haq as the ODI captain, after an underwhelming stint that saw him win just five of his matches as captain against the top eight sides — all coming against Sri Lanka.

Azhar Ali resigns from Test vice captaincy

Azhar Ali later also resigned from the vice captaincy post in the five-day format. The 31-year-old confirmed the news on his official twitter account.

Just to add from earlier statement from the chairman I am also stepping down as test vice captain .
— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) February 9, 2017

COMMENTS (1)

Khalid Javaid | 7 years ago | Reply Weak, lukewarm captaincy was not the only reason for humiliating defeat in Australia, the politicization of Cricket with non-cricketing minds managing the show, excessive presence of players in the team having shady reputation involved in match fixing or other scandals, old so called senior players in the side playing for their own personal survival like Shoaib Malik, Hafeez, sidelining the budding talents (like Mokhtar Ahmad) have also equally contributed to the deterioration of cricket and cricketing standards in Pakistan. If such factors are not addressed, changing of faces are likely to end-up in failure again. .

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