KARACHI: Former Captain Moin Khan on Monday called on the Pakistan cricket authorities for giving Sarfraz Ahmed a long run as captain of Pakistan and said the wicketkeeper-batsman should be appointed skipper till the World Cup 2019 to ensure that he carries the best team combination to the mega event.

Speaking to Dawn on Monday, Moin said: “Sarfraz is a fighter who has led the national team superbly in all the formats so far. So I strongly recommend to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to announce him as skipper till the World Cup 2019 so that he is able to groom and build a winning combination of players for the mega event in England.”

Moin, who was part of the 1992 World Cup winning team as wicketkeeer-batsman, observed that Sarfraz had infused a tremendous fighting spirit into the side and the Pakistan team is displaying mental toughness as well as competitive cricket while taking on all oppositions in world cricket.

“I have seldom seen our team making so many good comebacks that they have done in all formats of the game in recent times,” added Moin. “The manner in which we bounced back to win the Champions Trophy in England last year, and then again in the final against Australia in the tri-series in Zimbabwe last month was a treat to watch.”

Moin also praised Sarfraz for giving confidence to so many young players by giving them a fair run at international games. “There are more than a dozen young and talented players who have blossomed as match-winners for Pakistan under the able leadership of Sarfraz,” he said. “Chop and change is not Sarfraz’s idea of cricket and he deserves the credit for giving a fair run to so many youngsters in the last two years which has paid off in a handsome manner for our cricket.”

“I feel that Sarfraz highly deserves a longer run as captain now after having proved his credentials, and urge the PCB to announce him as captain till the next year’s World Cup.”

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2018