Sarfraz Ahmed likely to be handed Pakistan’s Test captaincy

Sarfraz Ahmed likely to be handed Pakistan’s Test captaincy

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Pakistan's limited over skipper, Sarfraz Ahmed, who led Pakistan to the Champions Trophy glory recently, is all set to be appointed as the skipper of the Test team as well. The position has still been vacant since the retirement of Misbah-ul-Haq after the victorious tour to West Indies in May.

After leading the team to victory in the Champions Trophy, Ahmed, along with the entire Pakistan team, got a heroic welcome back home as hundreds of fans packed the Karachi airport after the team returned from England. But it seems like the happy days for Sarfraz is still not over as reports emerged that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to award him with the Test leadership duty. 

The official announcement will be made when the PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan returns to the country. But an unnamed official from the board cleared the air that the announcement will only be a “formality” and that the decision has already been taken.

"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. Sarfaraz will take over as Test captain after being appointed as deputy to Misbah-ul-Haq on the recent tour to the West Indies," the official told PTI. 

Misbah led the Pakistan Test side for seven years, starting from 2010, and held the position till the tour of West Indies in 2017, where he played his last international game for Pakistan. But his retirement had left the position vacant. 

On the other hand, Ahmed will have to wait for at least three months to lead the Test side as Pakistan are scheduled to take part in the longest format of the game in September-October when they host Sri Lanka in the UAE . The long gap has come about after Pakistan pulled out of a scheduled Test tour of Bangladesh in July.

It is also being reported that a committee of former Test players, Haroon Rasheed and Mudassar Nazar and chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed will submit their feedback on the performance of the support staffs.

"Any decision on the future of some coaches will be taken based on the committee's suggestions. But Chairman, Shaharyar is delighted with the work of head coach, Mickey Arthur," he said.

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