‘Controversial Malik wrong choice as stand-in skipper’
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LAHORE: Former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for appointing controversial all-rounder Shoaib Malik as captain of the national team as replacement of regular skipper Sarfraz Ahmed who has been served a four-match ban by the ICC over his racist remarks during the second ODI against South Africa in Durban last week.
Talking to Dawn on Monday, Sarfaraz reminded that Malik has been suspected of fixing matches on a couple of occasions in the past and Mohammad Hafeez would have been a better choice to lead the national team for the four matches.
“Malik had to quit the captaincy of Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League when an English cricketer raised doubts over his certain decisions during a match,” recalled Sarfaraz. “On another occasion, Malik while leading Sialkot Stallions, lost a domestic T20 match deliberately and also admitted it in the post-match talk.”
Sarfaraz further said that as a result of that confession, then PCB chairman Ijaz Butt sidelined Malik from the national team.
The former pacer also criticised the PCB for immediately calling Safraz back home despite the fact he could lead the team in the last T20 match of the tour. “This would give wrong signals to the team and the players about his [Sarfraz’s] future in the team,” he said.
Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2019
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Comments (30) Closed
Jan 29, 2019 11:13am
Agree with Nawaz here. Parchi system is the foundation of this state and gets reflected time and again.
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Jan 29, 2019 11:20am
Totally agree with SN for the first time...It certainly gives a wrong signal among the team mates...But hasty decision by PCB....
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Jan 29, 2019 11:46am
Recalling Sarfarz back to Pakistan was the right decision. We camplain about racisim and especially do not expect from a Pakistani cricket captain. This guy represented our country in a foreign land and his behaviour was a disgrace. He should be banned for good. I am sure there are other deserving candidates for captaincy.
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Jan 29, 2019 12:33pm
Don't agree with Sarfraz, Shoaib is the correct interim captain. Sarfraz is known to make senseless comments and unnecessarily cause controversary. Instead of making such comments please find Pakistan some fast bowlers. Our coaches seem to have forgotten how to hunt for talented bowlers.
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Jan 29, 2019 12:34pm
@Shib, Not a hasty decision punjabis were long against sarfaraz being in the team.
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Jan 29, 2019 12:38pm
Shoiab has been involved in fixing matches in the past to which he himself has admitted, should not have been given the captaincy.
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Jan 29, 2019 12:48pm
controversial all-rounder Shoaib Malik as captain is not suitable bcs he is match fixer, and grouping in team once against Yusuf he made group, and get him out from team. he is not playing for Pak team he play for his own benefit.
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Jan 29, 2019 12:57pm
Shoaib Malik is the better choice
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Jan 29, 2019 12:58pm
Why every past, retired and out of touch with the cricket, keep on opening their mouths?
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Jan 29, 2019 01:04pm
totally disagree with Sarfraz.
He likes to seek publicity by making negative remarks.
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Jan 29, 2019 01:26pm
I totally disagree with Sarfaz Nawaz and Wasim Akram, two stalwart palsitan cricketers. My argument is simple. Both Hafeez and Shoaib are better candidates as captains as they are very experienced, they are about to retire so don’t have to worry about surviving, they are well established in their lives, finally they can lead from the front in terms of positive contribution. They are also so much better communicators. Where as Sarfaz is struggling with the bat and I beleive Rizwan is probably a better bat. World Cup assignment is around the corner why gamble, appoint a long term captain post WC. For test cricket Shan Masood looks like he has good brains and appears to have improved as a batsman and is youngish!
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Jan 29, 2019 01:31pm
@Shib, ".It certainly gives a wrong signal among the team mates...But hasty decision by PCB...." It gave the intended signal to the majority of Pakistan (about 60%) and was certainly not a hasty decision, on the contrary a well planned one.
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Jan 29, 2019 01:32pm
@Tariq, "Shoaib Malik is the better choice" As long as Sarfraz is out, everyone is the right choice, he was the only one from Karachi. By the way, are they sending a replacement wicket keeper?
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Jan 29, 2019 01:39pm
you just keep your nose out of PCB affairs and do n not dare to be highlighted in media.
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Jan 29, 2019 02:22pm
@Saif Zulfiqar, because he had a huge complex of Imran Khan. So much that he even joined PPP at one time.
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Jan 29, 2019 02:24pm
As much as I disagree with him, he is right here. S Malik also created a very ugly lobby against legendary Younis Khan and with the infamous akmal Brothers tried taking ownership of the team. Malik is a very bad egg. Always been the cause of infighting.
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Jan 29, 2019 02:39pm
@JackJones, friend, Malik has a history of creating lobbies in any team he has played for.
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Jan 29, 2019 04:00pm
@Tariq, the ODI match is over, Sarfarazs opinion now doesnt count, too late.
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Jan 29, 2019 04:08pm
Some people just can not keep quiet,I reckon Pakistan team is in good hands and players are working as professional and responsible unit.Outsiders have no business to make uncalled for comments.
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Jan 29, 2019 05:05pm
Agreed, furthermore professor is better choice as he is well respected within the team then anyone else!
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Jan 29, 2019 07:13pm
Sarfraz used racist remarks and should not lead his country again if that was anyone else making racist remarks against pakistani or Asian player we would be calling for his head
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Jan 29, 2019 08:31pm
I don't like his opinion but I would have liked to see Babar Azam being given the temporary charge of team. Even Imad Wasim is younger player, leads his PSL franchise well and have experience of leading sides but then Malik is a safe bet since it's temporary. He has done that for ages and commands the respect of whole group and cricketing world.
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Jan 29, 2019 08:33pm
@JackJones, are you aware of shaheen afridi and usman and theirperformance
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Jan 30, 2019 12:04am
@Syed Hafeez Imran, What does that have to do with Malik being the captain? Malik is the interim captain period and I wish him and the Pakistan team the best of luck.
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Jan 30, 2019 12:44am
If what Sarfraz is saying is correct then why is Shoaib in the Pakistan cricket team?
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Jan 30, 2019 02:59am
When it's already an established fact that Sarfraz is too temperamental with no regard for any norms or ethics, why create such a controversy? Pakistan doesn't need anything like that at this juncture since they are already afflicted with a string of losses in recent times, and only have to have a positive outlook to muster the confidence and rhythm that they need to gear up for the forthcoming World Cup in May 2019. Such demoralizing statements must be curbed and edited in a way as to present the true picture with a positive spin instead of playing negatively on the minds of those (already overworked) players in a foreign country. Mr. Nawaz, I hope you will refrain from making such demoralizing remarks while a series is in progress.
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Jan 30, 2019 03:20am
Babar Azam or Hafeez should have been made the captain.
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Jan 30, 2019 07:20am
If he has indeed admitted match fixing why is he in the side?. There are many talented players for whom his position should be sacrificed. What message does this send to other players?.
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Jan 30, 2019 09:02am
@Syed Hafeez Imran, I am referring to fast and swing bowlers like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar. Amir is way over rated and not effective and certainly not humble. Not sure why the coaches continue to give him so many opportunities. We might as well give an opportunity to Asif too, amazing swing bowler. I can see Shaheen and Usman being a potential but no way compare to the 2Ws and Akhtar.
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Jan 30, 2019 12:23pm
@JACKJONES, "If what Sarfraz is saying is correct then why is Shoaib in the Pakistan cricket team?" He's not from Karachi.
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