Former Test cricketer and Lahore Qalander director Aaqib Javed lashed out at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq after the sudden removal of Sarfaraz Ahmed as Pakistan’s Test and T20I skipper earlier this month.
Javed also criticized PCB’s incomprehensible policies and Misbah for his haphazard decisions the way the board overturned its own decision just after one series defeat.
The PCB had earlier shown great confidence in Sarfaraz and retained him as captain across the format but things have completely changed after Pakistan’s embarrassing defeat in the home T20I series at the hands of the young Sri Lankan side, as they came under pressure.
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Following the series defeat, the PCB sacked Sarfaraz from captaincy and even dropped him from the Pakistan squads for Australia tour in November and Aaqib believes that the decision came under the pressure of media and fans, but felt Misbah played a huge role in his removal.
He further added that the Misbah will also be treated the same way by PCB while expecting the same fate for the former captain as Sarfaraz, saying he will have to prove himself with a dual role soon.
Javed told Geo News, “I do not understand what they want. Just because they [PCB] were criticized in one series by fans and media, the board decided to change its own decision. First, the board expressed confidence in Sarfaraz Ahmed to lead the team in all three formats of the game, but because of the criticism received for the series, everything was changed.”
He continued, “Misbah has been given a great responsibility and when so much responsibility is given to a single person, there is a lot of riding on it and decisions are quickly changed. I expect the same fate to follow Misbah as Sarfaraz.”
The former cricketer also demanded PCB re-appoint Sarfaraz as captain till the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia, saying he took the team to the top of the rankings. He questioned, “What else can we expect from him.”
(With Geo News Inputs)
