Removing Sarfraz from captaincy would be wrong: Miandad

APP Published November 7, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Batting legend Javed Miandad on Tuesday said it will be a wrong move by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) if Sarfraz Ahmed is removed from national captaincy, noting the team is doing well under the wicket-keeper’s leadership.

Talking to APP, Miandad said the credit goes to Sarfraz for winning the back-to-back Twenty20 series against Australia and New Zealand.

“However, ODIs and Tests are real cricket on the basis of which a team’s capability is judged. Our players must perform in longer formats to prove their place in the team. The real test for Pakistan will be the one-dayers against New Zealand,” former Pakistan captain Miandad said of the three-match ODI series beginning in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

“Our players must try to play out full 50 overs in order to score handsome totals. Our [main] batsmen need to stay at the wicket for 35 to 40 overs so that there are enough wickets in hand to increase scoring rate in the final overs, Miandad, a veteran of 124 Tests and 233 ODIs, insisted.

When asked why he thought he was not considered by the present PCB regime for the newly-formed cricket committee or any relevant post in the Board, Miandad said “it is their choice if they do not want my help to improve cricket affairs”.

Meanwhile, former Test wicket-keeper Saleem Yousuf said Sarfraz must lead the team till the 2019 World Cup, saying players are performing very well under his captaincy.

Talking to APP, Saleem said recently Pakistan beat Australia and New Zealand in the T20 series which is a great achievement for Sarfraz.

“Ups and downs come in the life of every player. However, it does not mean that Sarfraz has given up. He is a fighter who has always come up victorious in every situation,” he said.

“The PCB must form a formidable team for the 2019 World Cup keeping in mind the conditions and pitches in England.”

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2018

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SMJ

Nov 07, 2018 11:25am

Javed Miandad is a LEGEND in the history of Pakistani cricket! For the PCB, this is how merit is treated: Ignoring talent. This is our national dilemma and the cause of our decline in all sports that once we ruled...

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Malik Imran

Nov 07, 2018 11:25am

leave politics behind and keep Sarfraz as captain.

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zain

Nov 07, 2018 11:48am

Another captain from Karachi feeling the music....

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Amin

Nov 07, 2018 11:56am

Business under new managment. Soon there will be a issue with Inzamamul Haq .

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superhero

Nov 07, 2018 12:09pm

here comes the politics in Cricket once again. Why you have to bring this idea of change? Super Genius approach..

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Khalid Nafees

Nov 07, 2018 12:32pm

@Malik Imran, but Mosin Khan should be out.

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Amin

Nov 07, 2018 01:13pm

this is because of Mohsin. he should be terminated.

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Sarai Alamgir

Nov 07, 2018 02:00pm

Why are we even talking about this? I was watching a TV program the other day where a very recent wicket keeper was on the panel, the host was suggesting that he can make a comeback, just because he has scored run in the domestic circle, wheat are we doing in the media, by doing this? Why cant we just back the team 100%, and not muddle the affairs. I even saw comments to suggest Abul Razzaq should be included, the next thing is, ythey will want Wasim Akram to come back. Move on.

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Asad

Nov 07, 2018 02:01pm

Mohsin Khan and Ahsan Mani should be kicked out for being racists

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WBM

Nov 07, 2018 02:15pm

It seems there is no politics within the team (as it happened in past to change the captain) and now politics started externally to remove Sarfraz from captaincy before World Cup. There are some chances that the politics may begin again within the team in upcoming matches before WC. In recent time, when all players played like a team, Pakistan won against strong teams. e.g. ICC Champions Trophy 2017. However, the performance of Pakistan in ODIs during Asia Cup 2018 showed there are some chances for team politics to remove Sarfraz from Captaincy before WC

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Saif Sherazi

Nov 07, 2018 03:17pm

Ehsan Mani has done more damage to PCB in a few weeks - by forming an unnecessary committee, appointing Mohsin Khan, & delaying Sarfaraz's confirmation as captain - than Najam Sethi did in two years.

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wsyed

Nov 07, 2018 05:04pm

Let us be democratic and have a vote among team members. I am sure most will reject Sarfraz on the basis of skills and low esteem (bad mouthing).Sarfraz creates a hostile, regressive, negative environment not suitable for nurture and development of players confident in their abilities.No other Captain in cricket behaves and treats team members insultingly as Safraz!

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Zarrar

Nov 07, 2018 05:46pm

Questioning Sarfaraz's captaincy is basically the dawn of the new era of politics in Pakistan Cricket.

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Zulfiqar

Nov 07, 2018 06:14pm

@SMJ, Miandad is a legend no doubt. However I think PCB did the right thing as modern cricket needs to be managed by younger former players who are also capable like Misbah. T20 did not exist in miandad’s time and we need people running affairs who are not only legends but also have played at all three formats. Besides he’s had these posts too many times in the past. It’s time for younger management. I feel his role should be to coach kids at under 19 level. That’s where his expertise is.

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FarAz_Canada

Nov 07, 2018 07:53pm

@wsyed, democracy? What is this, House of Cards!

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Nov 07, 2018 08:03pm

Great advice by cricket legend Miandad to Sarfraz and party followed by wonderful recommendations by the ex wicket-keeper batsman Saleem Yousuf of green-shirts to the current "movers and shakers" of PCB."

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Harris

Nov 08, 2018 12:26am

@Zarrar, youre talking nonsense. I for one was questioning his tactics. However after his 60 odd in the first odi I commend him. He could do nothing more. Other batsmen like hafeez who wasted a review and babar azam are guilty. Simple. Imad Wasim needs to come up the order as he is a proper batsman and a fantastic bowler also. Malik needs to come lower down.

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JACKJONES

Nov 08, 2018 07:56am

I don't know why there is a sudden influx of past cricketers making comments about Sarfraz not being the World Cup 2019 captain. My understanding is that the current captain (Sarfraz) is the assumed captain for the World cup unless PCB says otherwise. I agree with Javed bhai that the real test is ODis and test matches. We do need to go back to the drawing board about our performance in both those formats.

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marcus

Nov 09, 2018 01:31am

Inzi is at the head - his own head is nowhere to be seen. This can only mean one thing decisions being made without using a proper head.

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Sabidi

Nov 09, 2018 03:33am

Sarfraz has shown abuntanyly his skills as captain of the team. Nothing wrong to expect only the best from his team and that does not mean he is insolent to his team members. As someone suggested above that if an election is held his teammates will reject him as their captain is only a naive thought. And said too I hope sanity prevails and Sarfraz confirmed captain in all formats

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Rahat

Nov 09, 2018 03:49am

Sarfraz is unfit physically, mentally. Not able to communicate with team member with dignity and respect. A Captain need to earn respect and have common decency when dealing at different levels. He is disgusting with team members, unable to communicate or relate with opposing teams and referees. What does team winnings have to do with him. He fails at most crucial times, his score hardly goes into double digits even with chances. Time to retire Sarfraz, have some pride!

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