Pakistan caught up in World Cup aftermath, Kamran Akmal wants Sarfaraz Ahmed to be stripped from captaincy

Pakistani wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal was one who had complained to Prime Minister Imran Khan to take steps against the national cricket team after it failed to make the semi-finals of the cricket World Cup held in England and Wales recently. The 37-year-old even remarked that those who were expecting the side led by Sarfaraz Ahmed to win the trophy were doing nothing but daydreaming.

Akmal, who was a member of the Pakistan squad that had made the World Cup semi-final last time (2015), now wants Sarfaraz to be stripped of the captaincy. He said though the final call rested with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), he also warned that if the board still maintained status quo and hoped for miracles, then the future of Pakistan cricket is not safe.

Speculation is rife over Sarfaraz’s future with reports indicating that either he could be removed from captaincy or made to lead his country in lesser formats. Former speedster Shoaib Akhtar, who was also critical of Sarafarz after Pakistan lost to India at the World Cup, said he wished to Haris Sohail leading the side in the limited-over formats and Babar Azam in Tests.

Akmal puts it in PCB court

“I guess everybody including the PCB has witnessed Sarfraz’s track record. I can’t comment whether he should stay as captain or not, as it is purely the PCB’s [move], but I think the time is [right that] the PCB should come up with something different and something solid if they want to save Pakistan cricket,” Akmal as quoted as saying by Pakistan daily The Nation.

“If the situation remains the same and the PCB keeps on hoping for miracles, then the future of Pakistan cricket seems very bleak.”

Akmal, who played in 53 Tests, 157 ODIs and 58 T20Is, also expressed hope that PM Khan will bring positive changes in the team and its management and do justice to players and fans who he called “long-suffering”.

Pakistan started disastrously in the World Cup by losing their first game to the West Indies by 7 wickets and went on to win just one of their first five games. They then made a comeback of sort by winning four back-to-back games but yet found themselves out of the fray.