While calls for him to give up the Pakistan Test captaincy have been increasing with each passing day, Sarfraz Ahmed has received the backing of legendary pacer Wasim Akram.
The former Pakistan international and now a member of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) newly constituted Cricket Committee, Akram believes that there are no other suitable candidates to replace Sarfraz in his role.
“I have been hearing about this for the last month or two. If not Sarfraz then who? Somebody give me a name of who would replace Sarfraz,” Akram was quoted as saying by Geo News on the sidelines of an event in Multan.
“There are no Imran Khan or Javed Miandad waiting in line to replace him. Sarfraz is playing good cricket. The upcoming tour to South Africa will be very challenging,” the Pakistan great added.
Sarfraz has found his position as Pakistan skipper across all three formats come under increased scrutiny following his side’s 1-2 loss in the Test series against New Zealand in the UAE.
Akram’s stance on Sarfraz differs from Shahid Afridi’s.
Many former Pakistan players including Shahid Afridi have raised question marks over the wicketkeeper-batsman’s ability to lead the side in all three formats.
“I favoured his captaincy in all there formats earlier. But now we have the World Cup coming up. This is my wish – he can make his own decision, that he should put Test cricket aside for some time and focus on ODIs and T20s. I am saying so from my experience. He will then be able to deliver more,” Afridi had told the Pakistan media recently.
Sarfraz’s Test leadership will now be put to the test in South Africa where Pakistan are slated to play a three-match series against the hosts beginning on Boxing Day.