LAHORE: Pakistan ODI captain Sarfraz Ahmed is now being considered for Test captaincy.
He impressed not only the entire nation but cricket pundits all over the world with his skillful decision making during the pressure situations in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, including the Chairman Shahryar Khan and head of the executive committee Najam Sethi have shared their common opinion of promoting the wicket-keeper batsman as Test skipper. One of the PCB officials told media, “It is now just a formality of the PCB Chairman making an announcement when he returns home. The decision has been taken and is final. Sarfraz will take over as Test captain after being appointed as deputy to Misbah-ul-Haq on the recent tour to the West Indies.”
Misbah-ul-Haq played his last Test against West Indies and retired from the longer format along with star batsman Younis Khan. Both were given a prestigious farewell and have received honour from several analysts. Recognised as the Pakistan’s most successful Test skipper, Misbah remained at the position for seven years.
The announcement to appoint Sarfraz Ahmed as the new captain will be made after the two leading officials arrive home as they went to London to attend an ICC meeting. The 30-year-old is already serving as captain in both shorter formats, including ODIs and T20s.
Although he will be appointed as captain in a short span from now, he will play his first series in September-October after assuming the power against Sri Lanka in UAE. The green shirts tour to Bangladesh was called off by Shahryar Khan. He argued that as Pakistan had already completed two tours of Bangladesh, in 2013 and 2015, they are now unwilling to tour for the third time ithout Bangladesh reciprocating and sending their men s team to Pakistan
Mickey Arthur will continue as heach coach until next April and, after lifting the CT17 trophy, it is likely that he would get an extension.
