Sarfraz to replace Azhar Ali as new ODI captain

E-Paper | May 02, 2026

Wicket keeper Sarfraz Ahmed on Thursday was appointed captain of the One Day International (ODI) cricket team, replacing senior batsman Azhar Ali.

Azhar Ali, in a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan in Dubai, informed the PCB head that he is ready to step down as captain, PCB sources said, after which the PCB appointed Sarfraz captain.

Separately, Test captain Misbah-ul-haq told the PCB chairman that he needs some time to decide whether he will remain captain or not and will reach a decision after the Pakistan Super League, the sources said.

Talking to DawnNews on the phone from Dubai Shehryar Khan said Ahzar Ali told him that he was ready to step down as the ODI captain.

"After Azhar's offer I discuss the matter with head coach Mickey Arthur, Inzamam ul Haq and other senior officials and we mutualy decided to appoint Sarfraz as the new captain."

Shehryar Khan also said, "Misbah has informed him that he is yet to decide about retaining the position as the Test captain and will inform us about his decision after PSL"

The PCB chairman gave Misbah time to make the decision, but made it clear that the board will also have a say in the matter of Test captaincy.

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Sheraz

Feb 09, 2017 02:49pm

Great decision but need more aggressive player in team who can be match winner and consistent

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AsIF

Feb 09, 2017 02:56pm

Finally...azhar captaincy during Australia tour was not less than funny .....Balance of power shifting to karachi again ....

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farjee

Feb 09, 2017 02:53pm

Now get rid of other veterans and give him a new team for next world cup.

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Saad

Feb 09, 2017 03:02pm

Azhar Ali should be the part of one day team as a player.

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Feb 09, 2017 03:05pm

@AsIF it is not a Team Karachi, it is Pakistan. So the balance of power remains in Pakistan.

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truthseeker

Feb 09, 2017 03:10pm

@AsIF bhai stop with this mentality!! we are Pakistanis and our team play and represent entire country ..stop with this division from the British times...

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Mahmed

Feb 09, 2017 03:20pm

Finally .... After a Long time a Good Decision made by the PCB, there are no doubts that Azhar ali is a good player but only at Test Level, Backing Sarfarz to do a good Job as a Captain.

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Dangal

Feb 09, 2017 03:18pm

He is more like Rahul Dravid ( Good batsman but bad wicket keeper ) , Additional pressure of captainship will reduce the chances of improvement in wicket keeping .

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Yaser Arafat

Feb 09, 2017 03:24pm

Rather to take such immediate decision, Sarfraz is supposed to test as interim captain and keep Azahar out of team for the the time being, otherwise if Sarfraz too good not perform well than what PCB choice?

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T A Qazi

Feb 09, 2017 03:25pm

Sarfraz is a proven leader. I guess he is the only choice in current scenario

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ADNAN MAZHER KHAN

Feb 09, 2017 03:26pm

Best choice.

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common sense

Feb 09, 2017 03:30pm

the pressure of captaincy may hamper sarfarazs batting

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Shahid

Feb 09, 2017 03:34pm

So if we need to change captain, everyone should play worst and captain will be removed. Such a bad practice. Why you have made him captain earlier if he was not capable? What if Sarfaraz's team will be crushed same again? Will you remove him as well ....

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Muhammad Kamran

Feb 09, 2017 03:43pm

Good decision. Sarfraz was also captain of U-19 team when Pakistan won the U-19 World Cup against India. Sarfraz is a fighter indeed. I hope Misbah learns from past players and respectfully retires.. I know its hard to leave the limelight but its better for him.

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BAXAR

Feb 09, 2017 03:45pm

@AsIF "Balance of power shifting to karachi again" The word "again" seems even funnier than the rest of the sentence. By the way, from where?

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Asif Khan

Feb 09, 2017 03:46pm

Better late than never, Sarfraz should have been appointed Captain when Azhar Ali was chosen back when Waqar Younus was Coach of Pakistan Team and giving Sarfraz a run for his place even in the playing eleven.

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Batool

Feb 09, 2017 03:47pm

@SR rightly said, we are Pakistani no bias based on city or cast should be tolerated. These things made us weaker. When we were doing good we had a very balanced side in all respects

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Shafiq

Feb 09, 2017 03:48pm

@Dangal I guess your favorite wicket keeper is Kamran Akmal.

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M Ali

Feb 09, 2017 03:50pm

Good move hope in Sarfaraz leadership he will bring back goldens days of Pakistan cricket

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Batool

Feb 09, 2017 04:01pm

Pakistan need to do a lot more, just changing the captain will not do much good. As far as one days and T20s are concerned we don t have the right batsmen or bowlers. Sarfraz is a fad, now from waseem to misbah rashid to sarfraz every body is after money. For PSL they are working their hearts out but for the national side they only criticize

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BAXAR

Feb 09, 2017 04:00pm

@Dangal " Good batsman but bad wicket keeper " You have better wicket keeper in mind?

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Mirza

Feb 09, 2017 04:02pm

All the best to Sarfraz. PCB should give him time at least until World Cup 2019 and he has the capability to lead team in all 3 formats.

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Sane

Feb 09, 2017 04:04pm

Another 'popular decision' by PCB... another big mistake.

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Sane

Feb 09, 2017 04:08pm

@AsIF Dude are you talking about cricket? these things only will mar our cricket

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Fayzee

Feb 09, 2017 04:05pm

@common sense Or maybe do opposite.. Remember when Imran Khan became captain, he became better all rounder.

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Faisal

Feb 09, 2017 04:25pm

Good decision by Azhar as he should focus more on his test batting as Pakistan needs him in future. Sarfraz is the right choice at this moment in time but PCB needs to develop future Captains.

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anon

Feb 09, 2017 04:34pm

Why are people talking about balance of power between Karachi and Lahore. If this is the issue, please bring everything from Karachi and win us the matches! It doesn't matter where the players are coming from...what matters is how they represent the nation, Pakistan. Com'n guys grow up!

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Indian4rmblore

Feb 09, 2017 04:40pm

Again media made surfaraz a captain. Too much of influence of media,

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israr

Feb 09, 2017 04:37pm

finally a sensible decision I mean who made azhar captain that was such a pathetic choice, ok now sarfaraz is odi captain as well I will advise him to build a team only sarfaraz, babar, sharjeel and m amir are given other than that he should look for 2 openers 3-4 middle order batsmen 2-3 seaming alrounders hitters 3 spinning alrounders 2 tall seamers 2 spinners I would also recommend shehzad, Khalid latif, haris sohail, anwar ali, bhatti, hammad, talat, asghar, saud shakeel, m abbas, mir hamza, m Nawaz, imad wasim, usman qadir and couple of off spinners which can be bilal asad or keep s malik but as alrounder not just as batsmen

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Indian4rmblore

Feb 09, 2017 04:41pm

Do u have any chioce, Ans - NO

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MASTER

Feb 09, 2017 04:42pm

@Dangal Haha you must be a fool to say Dravid was a 'bad' wicket keeper. He may have been an average but certainly not bad.

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Philosopher(from japan)

Feb 09, 2017 05:00pm

Good decision. Now Team green should learn something from our team of players who see with less visibility (special team). They are winning all matches with huge margins especially Opener Riasat Khan is unstoppable who nearly made 3 centuries in three matches (2 centuries and one 94).

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syed

Feb 09, 2017 05:00pm

Change of captain will do not good. The whole mindset need to be changed and certain players must be kicked out in order for Sarfraz to be succcessful. He deserve fresh start with fresh team. Azhar ali, hafeez and also malik must go. These players are no good and will create problems for sarfraz with there influence being ex captains.

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mohammad azam bhatti

Feb 09, 2017 04:58pm

Fine, now choose youngsters for T20 and One dayers world cups. Make another team and arrange a tournament between and matches be held throughout Pakistan, i.e. Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad, Karachi ETC, ETC,

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aamir

Feb 09, 2017 05:03pm

@truthseeker In British times even India and Pakistan were not divided

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nafis

Feb 09, 2017 05:19pm

So it means Misbah advice was wrong. As Misbah himself was defensive player so he recommended player like him and see where Pakistan ODI is standing

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Amer

Feb 09, 2017 05:39pm

Great move finally. He should also lead Test side

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BAXAR

Feb 09, 2017 05:39pm

@Sheraz "need more aggressive player in team" There is no aggressive player. Good players are those who can play according to the situation. The correct adjective would be adaptable.

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Jamil

Feb 09, 2017 05:48pm

@Batool Merit and merit alone should be the sole criteria for selection and we should bury once for all, the distinction of north, south, east, west and think only as Pakistani and rejoice in its achievement.

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A pakistani_IReland

Feb 09, 2017 06:00pm

Best choice finally

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vijay

Feb 09, 2017 06:29pm

Unless peace prevails in Pakistan there is no chance of any revival as most of the International teams have shunned visiting Pakistan.

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aBDULLA

Feb 09, 2017 06:41pm

...Waqar Younis must be shocked!!! since he felt Sarfraz wasn't national team material...amazing how things change... Can someone please tell Misbah there is life outside cricket & Pakistan needs a favour from him to go

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IMran

Feb 09, 2017 07:04pm

Who chose him as a captain. There is serious question mark over selectors of a leader. Especially limited over cricket.

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Umar akmal

Feb 09, 2017 07:27pm

They should consider me as well. They are wasting my talent just like Hafeez bhai.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Feb 09, 2017 07:38pm

Great decision. Sarfaraz truly deserves to be captain. I hope the team supports him as well.

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Pakfan

Feb 09, 2017 07:35pm

@nafis Agree.All players/selectors/coach/ management have to understand that Team work, aggressive and intelligent cricket is needed with fitness to be successful on today's FLAT pitches. There should be no compromise on selection when it comes to fitness and TEAM WORK. Sarfraz aggressiveness and intelligence suits him to be ODI captain.

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na ji na

Feb 09, 2017 07:39pm

Poor Sarfaraz... now its his turn.

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Shakil USA

Feb 09, 2017 07:51pm

@truthseeker - Yes we are all Pakistani first.

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Umar akmal

Feb 09, 2017 07:54pm

Kamran bhai is much much better wicket keeper than sarfaraz.

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saad khan

Feb 09, 2017 08:00pm

@ Asif - Pakistan first! No Karachi, Lahore, etc

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N_Saq

Feb 09, 2017 08:05pm

This is a good decision by Azhar. I don't think Azhar is captain material because he is too timid. It was obvious during the Aus tour that he had no idea how to use his bowlers, as he was focused on containing runs instead of taking wickets which automatically slows down the run rate. He is too old school, which was obvious from the fact that when Hafeez captained in his absence, he was able to get Aus out twice and the only match Pak won was when Hafeez was the captain. A successful captain is who drives passion and aggression from his players, keeps the team motivated, uses his players to their best potential and hold players accountable. I think Hafeez did a good job and that is why he was able to win. Azhar is a good batsman and now he should focus on his batting.

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Truth

Feb 09, 2017 08:07pm

Only Imran Khan left at his will. All other captains were forced out. Misbah surely is going to be forced out. Pakistani players don't like to leave with respect. They are sticky super glue like our politians.

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Raise Ahmed

Feb 09, 2017 08:14pm

PCB should admit. it was a mistake to pick Azhar as ODI captain, Azhar does not even have place in plying eleven at ODI format. Sarfarz should be captain in all 3 format.

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J. Gamble

Feb 09, 2017 08:47pm

IT is also time to replace the head coach Mickey Arthur.

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Shahid

Feb 09, 2017 08:50pm

A bad decision again, two in a row actually. Sarfraz Ahmed is possibly the worst ever Pakistan national team wicket-keeper when standing to spinners and should actually be afraid of losing his place in the team. He has dropped so many catches and missed numerous stumping chances while the ball pops out of his hands that it is difficult to find even one among his matches where it did not happen.

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ENGR OSMAN

Feb 09, 2017 08:58pm

Terrible decision... Sarfraz own glove work is not upto mark. PCB has totally lost. Really ridiculous to read comments on balance of power shifting to Karachi... Karachiites please grow up and unite against this Karachi vs Lahore factionism.

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Feb 09, 2017 09:00pm

@AsIF why to bring cities in cricket? Does it matter where the captain belongs to? As long as he is good for Pakistan, I don't mind to have a captain from Baluchistan . Please stop this division

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Ayub amir

Feb 09, 2017 09:07pm

Sarfraz has to justify his position as captain by bringing improvement in his wicketkeeping and batting as well. He is not on merit as captain but the PCB has no other choice. Strange for Pakistan cricket

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A pakistani_IReland

Feb 09, 2017 09:22pm

@Shahid .... well said ...,How do you know everything which no one knows? Tell us more about cricket

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A pakistani_IReland

Feb 09, 2017 09:24pm

@Truth ... check records IK wanted to play after World Cup and announced retirement during England series where he was not playing. As the players weren't happy

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SAEED

Feb 09, 2017 09:38pm

Very unfair with Azhar; why? Sarfraz performed in only one match, and then I do not see any performance. Sarfraz has been promoted to the 20th grade and now want to give him captainacy for what?

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A pakistani_IReland

Feb 09, 2017 09:47pm

"Pakistan first! No Karachi, Lahore, etc@saad khan " and No KPK and Balochistaan too.

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Wasi

Feb 09, 2017 10:39pm

@Umar akmal Get out of here if I'm speaking to the real player. You don't deserve to be on the team. You're selfish and immature just like Hafeez and other senior players.

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Abdul zaheer

Feb 09, 2017 11:29pm

Good decision by the Azhar Ali and also best replacement of Sarfaraz. He has potential and energetic captain according his previous performance in the matches he must deserved.

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Waseem

Feb 10, 2017 01:06am

As a player I like Sarfaraz but wicketkeeper captain is a bit risky. Keeper need to be alert on every ball and so is the captain. Moreover, keeper can't pat bowlers to encourage them after being hit bounderies. I wish Sarafraz succeed as all three roles - keeper, batsman and captain btu apprehensive.

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Babu bhai from saudabad

Feb 10, 2017 04:53am

Bad! Bad choice. He is not very consistent with the bat or WK.

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Babu bhai from saudabad

Feb 10, 2017 04:54am

@AsIF. Pathetic comment to say the least!

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Babu bhai from saudabad

Feb 10, 2017 04:57am

@T A Qazi. Proven from what? Did we win any Championship recently? Under 19 WC was in 2006 and since then his performance has been shady!

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Babu bhai from saudabad

Feb 10, 2017 04:57am

@Ayub amir. I think you summed it pretty well. Andhon mein kana raja...

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Wajahat Syed

Feb 10, 2017 05:01am

Another unwise move by the chairman, with senior player like Shoaib, Hafeez, and even wahab Riaz present, going to inexperienced players with no public relations ability is almost silly. Being a captain is more than cricket skills. Captain must have personality to get respect from players as well as public and officials.

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Khurram

Feb 10, 2017 07:57am

Azhar almost got 30 matches to bring down the team to be disqualified from the ODI World Cup. In contrast Sarfraz is appointed at the point where he has only 3 matches to bring back the team for tournament selection by beating WI at there home turf... For Sarfraz there won't be a worse time to lead the team. Anyways all the best Sarfraz, and our prayers are with you.

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Syed Haider

Feb 10, 2017 08:14am

Good luck Sarfraz Long live Pakistan

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Hasan

Feb 10, 2017 08:27am

@Khurram Correct. And this can only happen if senior players like Malik, Hafeez and everyone truly acknowledge Sarfraz as the skipper. No doubt Sarfraz is the most deserving one to lead.

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Abs uk

Feb 10, 2017 11:29am

@AsIF I am from karachi but I condone your comment, please dont create divisions, we are all Pakistanis under a green flag.

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Aruk

Feb 11, 2017 05:32am

Whoever replaces the captainship of pakistan cricket team will not make any impact on pakistani cricket team.

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