Sarfaraz Ahmed not the right choice for Test captain, reckon Shahid Afridi and Zaheer Abbas

09/20/2019

Shahid Afridi has stated that Sarfaraz Ahmed should only be retained as the skipper for the limited overs formats while Zaheer Abbas echoed similar thoughts, claiming it isn’t easy to be a Test captain. The latter also disagreed with Misbah ul-Haq’s appointment in dual positions with the men’s team.

After a string of disappointing results in the game’s longest format, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi believes the national team needs a change at the helm to bring back the glory days. The 32-year-old wicket keeper batsman had taken over the reigns from Misbah ul-Haq in 2017 after his retirement and has since won four Tests while losing nine, while drawing a solitary match. In their most recent assignment, they were whitewashed by the Proteas in a three-match series earlier this year.

"I think it would be better for him if Sarfaraz didn't become the Test captain because I think captaining in three formats is a big burden for him. He is naturally inclined to be a successful captain in the limited over cricket formats," Afridi was quoted saying by Times Now.

However, he has been pretty successful in the shorter formats, as he led Pakistan to the ICC Champion Trophy in 2017 in England before taking them to the number one ranking in the game’s shortest format last year, where they currently sit. Hence, former captain Zaheer Abbas believes he should continue as the captain in the two formats.

"I don't think he can manage the pressure of captaining in three formats. He would be better off only managing the ODI and T20 formats," he said.

One of the finest batsman in the game’s history, Abbas played 78 Tests and had two separate stints as the skipper of the national team.

"Test cricket is the most difficult format in cricket and it is not easy captaining in this format. Sarfaraz should be allowed to focus on 50-overs and T20 cricket," he said.

The legendary figure also was against the appointment of Misbah ul-Haq as both the head coach and national selector, stating he was in favour of handing the two roles to separate personnel.

"I think there will be lot of pressure on Misbah handling both things plus he doesn't have coaching experience at the top level," he signed off.