Ehsan Mani Explains Why Sarfaraz Ahmed Was Sacked As A Captain

Updated - 12 May 2022, 05:50 PM

Ehsan Mani
Ehsan Mani. (Photo: Twitter)

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani claims that removing Sarfaraz Ahmed as captain was in the team’s best interests.

Ehsan further denied claims that Sarfaraz Ahmed was ousted on Imran Khan’s advice in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan from London.

Pakistan
Sarfaraz Ahmed[photo: Twitter]
After Sarfaraz Ahmed, 32, was sacked, Azhar Ali was named Pakistan Test skipper for the rest of the year. Babar Azam will lead the T20 team until the World Cup next year.

Following Pakistan’s 3-0 loss to Sri Lanka in a T20 series in Lahore, the decision was made. During the series, Sarfaraz hit scores of 24, 26, and 17 but was unable to lead Pakistan to victory against a second-string Sri Lankan team. ‘His lack of form and confidence is apparent,’ Pakistan Cricket chief Ehsan Mani said in explaining the decision to fire Sarfaraz

Sarfaraz Ahmed
Sarfaraz Ahmed. Image-Twitter.

‘It has been decided to leave him out in the best interests of the squad and give him the time to reflect and reorganize himself away from international cricket,’ says the statement.

‘It had nothing to do with Prime Minister Imran Khan’: Ehsan Mani

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani has clarified allegations that ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan influenced PCB decisions.

Ehsan Mani further denied claims that Sarfaraz Ahmed was ousted on Imran Khan’s advice in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan from London.

Sarfaraz Ahmed
Sarfaraz Ahmed. Image-AFP.

“Imran did not interfere in any PCB affairs at all, and all decisions were made based on merit.” Take the case of Sarfaraz, whose performance was deteriorating, and Imran was adamant about removing him from captaincy. He said, “We replaced Sarfaraz with Rizwan, who has been amazing from the start.”

Following the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 in India, Sarfaraz was named Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain, and he was named Pakistan’s ODI captain on 9 February 2017 when Azhar Ali stepped down.

Following the retirement of Misbah-ul-Haq, he assumed the Test captaincy for his side, making him the 32nd Test captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team. Pakistan won the Champions Trophy in June 2017 under his guidance.

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Pakistan national cricket team Sarfaraz Ahmed