The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to name Azhar Ali, one of Pakistan’s most consistent batsman at the Test level as the new One-Day International (ODI) captain of Pakistan while World Cup hero Sarfaraz Ahmed will be his deputy.
“Azhar Ali will be the new one-day captain while Sarfaraz will be his understudy,” a senior PCB official told The Express Tribune.
“The board feels Azhar Ali is the right man to take the team forward while in the meantime Sarfaraz will be groomed as well,” the official added.
Azhar will be vice-captain in Test matches to Misbah while Sarfaraz will be deputy of Shahid Afridi in the T20 format.
Azhar has played 14 ODIs for Pakistan and last played in the format two years ago.
The batsman has scored 452 runs in 14 outings at an average of 41.09 in the 50-over format and was tipped to be the new captain by outgoing skipper Misbahul Haq and coach Waqar Younis.
The second contender for the post, wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed has been named the vice-captain for ODIs and T20s.
Sarfaraz has established himself as an important member of the Pakistan team after consistent performances throughout 2014 while he starred in the World Cup – notching up Pakistan’s first century in the mega event after 2007 edition.
