Pakistani wicket-keeper and T20 captain Sarfraz Ahmed has been appointed the national squad’s One Day International cricket captain as well, according to PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan.
Following Azhar Ali’s dismal performance as captain in the recently concluded Pakistan-Australia test series, PCB has decided to replace him with Sarfraz Ahmed, who is already leading Pakistan’s T20 squad.
Azhar also stepped down as Test team Vice Captain.
“Ali came to me and said that his batting form was affecting due to captaincy and that he wanted to step down, so we have appointed Sarfraz as one-day skipper,” the PCB chief told AFP.
Sarfraz, who accepted the one-day captaincy, is already leading the Twenty20 side.
Ali managed just 37 in the three matches in Australia and missed the remaining two with injury.
Ali was surprisingly appointed captain after Misbah-ul-Haq retired from one-day cricket following Pakistan´s quarter-final exit in the World Cup in 2015.
He led Pakistan in 31 one-day internationals winning 12 and losing 18. One match ended without result due to rain.
Under his captaincy Pakistan plummetted to ninth in one-day rankings. Currently at eighth Pakistan risks having to qualify for the 2019 World Cup to be held in England.
The top seven teams plus hosts England will get direct entry in the 2019 World Cup while four other ranked teams will feature in a 10-team qualifying round in 2018.
Khan said Test captain Misbah´s future is also in question.
Pakistan´s 3-0 Test series loss in Australia in December-January — their fourth consecutive whitewash — had raised calls for his sacking.
“Misbah has asked for some time (about his future) so we have given him time to decide in the next few days,” said Khan.
Pakistan players are currently featuring in the second edition of the Pakistan Super League in United Arab Emirates.
Their next international assignment is a three-match one-day and three-Test tour of the West Indies starting late March.
