PCB had offered Sarfaraz Ahmed chance to make a graceful exit, says reports

Azhar Ali will now lead Pakistan in Tests while Babar Azam in the T20Is.

Sarfaraz was sacked because of his lack of confidence and poor performance | AFP

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had reportedly asked Sarfaraz Ahmed to make a graceful exit as captain across all three formats but the wicketkeeper-batsman turned down the suggestion. 

PCB then moved ahead and removed him from T20I and Test captaincy on Friday (October 28).

A highly-reliable close source to the PCB has revealed that the PCB CEO Wasim Khan asked the outgoing skipper to step down having led Pakistan in all three formats of the game since 2017 when he met with him in Lahore before the announcement of hiring Babar Azam and Azhar Ali.

On Friday, the PCB has named Babar and Ali as Pakistan’s T20I and Test captain respectively.

Read Also: PCB took a jibe at Sarfaraz Ahmed's removal as skipper, fans slammed

The PCB source said: “Sarfaraz flatly refused to do this and told Wasim that the board could sack him if they wanted but he would not step down himself.”

It is also being said that Sarfaraz would also not be part of Pakistan's T20I or Test squad for the Australia tour next month, as head coach-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq wants to give the opportunity to the wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan in the upcoming series.

However, the PCB CEO had assured Sarfaraz that he could make a comeback to the national team when he regained his form as a wicket-keeper batsman.

(With PTI Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 19 Oct, 2019

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