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| Pakistan sacks Sarfaraz as captain in Test, T20I formats |
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Islamabad: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday sacked Sarfaraz Ahmed as captain in Tests and T20I format. The wicketkeeper-batsman was removed from the captaincy ahead of Australia tour and also left out of both formats due to the drop in his overall form during the past few series. Top-order batsman Azhar Ali was named as Pakistan''s Test captain while Babar Azam appointed as the captain of the Twenty 20 side until next year''s ICC T20 World Cup in Australia, PCB''s said in an official statement. However, PCB is yet to make a decision on the ODI captaincy while the decision on vice-captaincy will be made closer to the series.
Pakistan will play Australia in two Tests in Brisbane (November 21-25) and Adelaide (November 29-December 3 (d/n)) before hosting Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for two Tests apiece. Pakistan are also scheduled to play three T20Is each against Australia (November 3, 5 and 8) and Bangladesh before the curtain falls on their international domestic season in early February 2020. Azhar has been a mainstay of Pakistan''s batting line-up. The 34-year-old has scored 5,669 runs with 15 centuries and 31 half-centuries in 73 Tests. Reacting to his appointment, Azhar Ali said, "There is no bigger honour than to captain the Pakistan national cricket team in the pinnacle format of the game.
I feel humbled, excited and privileged, and with the support of the team, look forward to justifying the faith that has been entrusted upon me for the World Test Championship.'''' Outgoing skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed said, ''''It has been an honour to lead Pakistan at the highest level. I want to thank all my colleagues, coaches and selectors who have helped me in this journey. My good wishes are with Azhar Ali, Babar Azam and the Pakistan cricket team, and I hope they will continue to grow stronger and stronger.
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