Sarfraz Ahmed, Pakistan’s first Champions Trophy winning captain is all set to be elevated to the post of captain of the Test team as well, as per PTI. It has been learnt that Sarfraz is the go-to man for the Pakistan cricket board (PCB) after the retirement of Misbah ul Haq.
The former Test skipper retired from longest format of the game in the month of May after the conclusion of Test series against West Indies. Sarfraz was the deputy to Misbah on that tour, hence, him being given the charge to lead the team will not be a surprise at all.
However, the new candidate for the post of vice-captain will be interesting to one to see as there is no ready to go material in the side and selectors might offer Yasir Shah this job.
Sarfraz has impressed in his short career as captain after Azhar Ali relinquished the captaincy post the series loss against Australia. Sarfraz led his side to their first ever Champions Trophy victory with the final win coming against India, when the Men in Green bundled out the defending champions on a mere total of 180, while defending a huge total 0f 338. Indian players looked like a small force all throughout the game and Pakistan, which had earlier suffered a defeat in the league stage game against India, dominated the match to hand India an upset.
Pakistan went to the tournament as the eighth-placed team and no one had any expectations from them, especially after a drubbing at the hands of the Indian team in the first league stage game but, they made a remarkable comeback under Sarfraz.
The new Test skipper, however, has to wait for four months as Pakistan is scheduled to play a Test series against Sri Lanka in the month of October in UAE, which will be Sarfraz’s first assignment as the Test skipper of Pakistan. Before going in the series, the news regarding Mohammad Amir will also be quite curial as last month, reports suggested that pace bowling spearhead is considering to bid adieu to Test cricket. He is yet to make an official announcement though but there can be a case when this news can come out a wrong one as well.