Internet Desk: After winning the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy against arch-rivals India, Pakistan’s limited overs skipper Sarfraz Ahmed replaced retired Misbah-ul-Haq as the new Test captain today.
He has become the captain of Pakistan in all three formats of the game. He was the skipper of Pakistan cricket team in T-20’s long ago and took over the ODI job from Azhar Ali in February earlier this year following Pakistan’s poor display during the Australia tour.
Sarfraz lead Pakistan’s one-day side to a memorable Champions Trophy triumph last month, toppling arch-rivals India in a lopsided final to complete a stirring reversal of fortunes.
Having been smashed by India in the opening game of the tournament, Pakistan turned the form guide on its head to beat South Africa and then Sri Lanka, before ousting tournament hosts England in the semi-final to set up the rematch with India.
Sarfraz was captain of the Pakistan side that won the Under-19 World Cup in 2006, with his international debut coming a year later.
He spent several years in and out of the national team before earning a recall for the October 2014 limited-overs series against Australia in the UAE. He consolidated his position in the Test team as the No.1 wicketkeeper in that period and went on a hot streak, scoring three centuries and four fifties.
Ahead of his retirement, Misbah nominated Sarfraz among the leaders to take Pakistan forward.
“The onus is now on the likes of Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed to step up and fill the void,” Misbah wrote in his cricket.com.au column before his final Test.
“When two Pakistan greats Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf left the scene, Younis and I tried to fill that gap.
“Azhar and Asad have developed in the meantime and now they are at a stage to replace us. We need Azhar and Asad to now take ownership of the Test side, and with players like Babar Azam, Umar Amin, Mohammad Rizwan, Ahmed Shehzad, Usman Salahuddin, Fawad Alam among others in the ranks I am hopeful that Pakistan will remain in good shape.