Moin Khan lashes out at underperforming captain Azhar Ali

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan has criticized current Pakistan captain Azhar Ali following a disastrous drubbing in Australia, capitulating 1-4, with the lone win coming under Mohammad Hafeez. The 45-year-old was of the strong opinion that Azhar should’ve established his place in the ODI team instead of directly being inserted as captain.

“Azhar was inducted in the team directly as captain and I have always opposed this decision. He should have first secured his place in the team and then he should have been made captain. He didn’t deserve to be captain,” the Express Tribune quoted Moin as saying.

Although Azhar showed a positive improvement in his batting stats, with a better conversion rate, average and strike rate, Pakistan were at their worst ever career rank- No.9 under him. Each ODI until the 30th September 2017 will be extremely crucial for Pakistan as they find themselves on a tricky path to direct qualification for the 2019 World Cup sitting at 8th, just 2 points ahead of West Indies with whom they play a crucial ODI series soon.

Azhar Ali’s captaincy has been under the scanner from well before the Australia series, and the selectors had reportedly made it clear that Azhar would be sacked following another poor showing and wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed was rumored to take over.

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“Sarfraz has the potential to do well in all three formats as captain,” said Moin while echoing the words of another former captain, ShahidAfridi, who was also of the matching opinion that current T20I captain had all the right ingredients to be a leader.

Meanwhile, the former captain also said that he is ready to serve the country’s cricket in whatever way the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) deems fit. “I am always available to serve the national team and am ready to take any responsibility given to me by the PCB,” he added.