All Over For Sarfaraz Ahmed? Misbah-ul-Haq Speaks On Ex-Pakistan Captain's Future

Speculations were rife that Sarfaraz Ahmed would earn a recall from Pakistan team for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh at home. Recent reports suggested that Pakistan were set to recall their former captain due to Mohammad Rizwan’s struggles in T20Is. However, Pakistan once again ignored Sarfaraz Ahmed as they announced their T20I squad on Thursday.

After losing eight of their last nine T20I games including five in a row after the World Cup last year, Pakistan dropped as many as seven players who toured Australia last year. The seven dropped players are – Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Amir, Asif Ali, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed has not played for Pakistan since the 3-0 defeat in T20Is at home to Sri Lanka. Soon after that loss, he was sacked as the captain with Babar Azam and Azhar Ali taking charge of T20I and Test team respectively. Sarfaraz Ahmed was also dropped from Pakistan’s team and thus missed the tour of Australia as well as the home Test series against Sri Lanka.

Misbah-ul-Haq on Sarfaraz Ahmed’s future:

With no clarity over the future of Sarfaraz Ahmed’s international career, Pakistan head coach Misbah-ul-Haq was recently asked about it. In reply, Misbah-ul-Haq insisted that the wicketkeeper-batsman could still make a comeback to the Pakistan team if he performs well in the forthcoming season of Pakistan Super League (PSL).

“Sarfaraz Ahmed has made some terrific improvements in fitness and is one of the fittest at the moment. It’s straight forward for him with PSL coming up, he was dropped due to form. If he performs, he has a strong case to make a comeback,” Misbah-ul-Haq said.

Pakistan will play three T20Is, two Tests and one ODI against Bangladesh. Both the Tests are part of ICC Test Championship. Pakistan recently opened their account in the Test Championship by beating Sri Lanka and will be looking to extend their winning run in Tests as well as end their losing streak in T20Is.