Sports

Sarfraz should become next T20 captain: Waqar Younis

Coach said the wicket-keeper is an essential player, but different combinations must be tried all the time in T20

Sports Desk August 06, 2015

“In my opinion, Sarfraz is a key-player for Pakistan who should become the next captain of T20 after Shahid Afridi,” said Waqar Younis. PHOTO COURTESY: PCB

Pakistan cricket team coach Waqar Younis said on Wednesday wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed should be made the next T20 captain.

“In my opinion, Sarfraz is a key-player for Pakistan who should become the next T20 captain after Shahid Afridi,” Waqar told BBC Urdu in an interview in Sydney.

Clearing the air over Sarfraz’s exclusion from T20 against Sri Lanka, the coach said that the only reason the wicket-keeper was not played was to try other winning combinations for the ICC World Twenty20 next year.

Read: The T20 team— a work in progress

“It is essential to keep on trying different combinations in T20. However, any player who is not played, such as Sarfraz in this instance, is always given a reason for their exclusion from the team.

“The player is always taken in to confidence in such matters,” Waqar said.

Read: Sarfraz Ahmed downplays T20 selection controversy with 'I have no issues' statement

Sarfraz Ahmed was dropped from both the T20 matches and his omission from the squad was severely criticised back home. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also said that it required an explanation from the management regarding their decision.

Some groups believe that the main reason for Sarfraz’s exclusion was the coach, Waqar, himself.

However, the legendary fast-bowler revealed that while the team is on tour, decisions are not taken by him alone rather, they are based on the mutual consent of the touring selection committee which is made up of the coach, captain and the manager.

“I’m the coach, and as such, for me each player is the same. Favouring one player over another or holding grudges against certain players would mean that I am being dishonest with my country. How can I possibly do that?” he questioned.

The former paceman said the exclusion of the 28-year-old wicket-keeper was being blown out of proportion and considering the brilliant performance the team had executed in Sri Lanka, it was disheartening to see that the focus was on some made up ‘controversy’ rather than the victory at hand.

The 43 year-old said that as far as he is concerned, his job is to prepare the team, ease the work of the captain and motivate the players and since he is expending all of his efforts to fulfill these tasks, the critics and their baseless accusations did not bother him in the least.

COMMENTS (11)

sk | 9 years ago | Reply @Waseem Sarwar, I believe you have already gotten response to your feedback by other people plus people agreeing with my comments more than yours also validates that there's clearly a problem of biasdness in PCB, especially at coach's level, and that needs to be corrected if we want to avoid situation which we have in hockey

Talha khan | 9 years ago | Reply @Waseem Sarwar: **You seems to be either blind or deaf, you cannot even talk in senses. The way Waqar and Afridi has given excuses, it is evident that they do it deliberately. if they want any new combination than they may do it with any other player, and not he vice-captain. why not shahid afridi should stay out for a better combination in the team. Afridi has already zero in his form and personality for part of Pakistan cricket team.**

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Talha khan | 9 years ago | Reply Waqar, you are the main problem in our cricket. it is requested to please don't discourage the talent and promote Sarfaraz to take senior position. out of the team will not benefit his form, Sarfaraz should play regularly. you have served a lot, let someone replace you.

Salman | 9 years ago | Reply WAQAR and AFRIDI are ---HYPOCRITES-- Mr Waqar ....Plz stop misleading Pakistanis

syed | 9 years ago | Reply @Waseem Sarwar: Nonsense. You are as idiot a the coach

shah | 9 years ago | Reply Shame on this typical Pakistani mentality under Metric Coach. PCB should seriously think about Waqat younis

Wasi Khan | 9 years ago | Reply I think Afridi was afraid ahead of the T20 series against Srilanka. Knowing very well that if his form drops and Pakistan lose .. there will be calls for his resignation. Sarfaraz being the vice captain would then be the next in line and an obvious choice as T20 captain, given his consistent performance in all 3 formats. So i think its afridi's game plan to keep the best alternate captain out of the playing 11. If it was a question of experimenting with the team, why did the same 11 played in 2 matches? Why was hafeez not experimented with? Knowing he cannot ball for the next 12 months!

Shehryar | 9 years ago | Reply and it makes a lot of sense to keep the "future captain" out of the team in T20s.

Waseem Sarwar | 9 years ago | Reply @SK: and if Waqar has such issues with Sarfraz, he would have kicked him out of ODI and test side too. Surely Rizwan can play both formats if Waqar prefers him. Sarfraz was rested because they wanted firepower in lower middle order in Akmal and Rizwan. Sarfraz should open ahead of Mukhtar in next T20 series. If waqar had some race issues with Sarfraz, he would have dropped Asad Shafiq very long ago who is useless in short formats. Grow up and stop misleading people.

SK | 9 years ago | Reply Shame on you Waqar Younis for being liar to the core. Your actions speak louder than your words. You have grudge against Sarfraz, don't know if its personal or racially biased but it is there and Afridi is satisfying your ego to retain captaincy at Sarfraz's expense.

Saud | 9 years ago | Reply Yet he was dropped in the recent T20 series against SirLanka ... PCB officials should really make their minds about things before releasing a "strong" statement!

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