LAHORE - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar M Khan has named Azhar Ali as the new one-day international team captain.
Shaharyar said that the PCB chairman was responsible for deciding about the captain, according to PCB’s constitution. "I consulted former and senior players before reaching this decision and I hope it will be good for Pakistan cricket,” he said.
He was not even included in the final 15-man World Cup squad, but the PCB chief insisted that he had proved himself in the domestic Pentangular Cup and had excellent ODI record. "Azhar Ali has been appointed captain because of his leadership skills, team spirit and character. I know Azhar was not in the team in the last two years but his performance in the Pentangular series proved that he deserves to be the ODI team captain." Ali was also named as vice-captain for the Test side, which Misbah will continue to lead, while stylish all-rounder Shahid Afridi remains Twenty20 skipper.
Despite the fact, Azhar has not made the 50-over team in more than two years, he was chosen for the leadership of national ODI team after 30-year-old Misbah-ul-Haq retirement from ODIs. Azhar has played just 14 ODIs, the most recent in January 2013, when he contributed two with the bat as Pakistan beat arch-rivals India by 85 runs at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.
Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed was named vice-captain for both ODIs and T20s, a move that appears to cement his place in the side. Sarfraz, 27-year-old, was left out for the early matches of the World Cup but when he was finally called up, he responded with some dazzling glovework and the team’s first century in the tournament since 2007 in the last group game against Ireland.
"Unfortunately, we don't have a culture where we can install a 22-year-old captain like South Africa did with Graeme Smith. Both Azhar and Sarfraz are experienced but they will be given time to adjust. We are looking to bring change and needed fresh faces at the top," Shaharyar added.
The PCB chairman also announced former batsman Haroon Rasheed as the new chief selector. Kabir Khan, who has coached Afghanistan, has been included in the four-member selection panel. Shaharyar said captain and coaches would have no voting rights in selection and could only give their suggestions to the selection committee.
Pakistan, who were dumped out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals by Australia, have a series against England in October in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).