Sarfraz can play till the next World Cup: Mickey Arthur

After the miraculous ICC Champions Trophy 2017 triumph, there is no shortage of good news in Pakistan cricket. After more than eight years, international cricket is finally returning to the cricket crazy yet the cricket starved nation. After the much awaited Independence Cup against World XI, Sri Lanka will tour Pakistan for three T20I matches. While many cricketers have performed exceedingly well in the Champions Trophy, the Pakistani fans are banking on a specific player now to restore the rich history of the Men in Green.

Undoubtedly, that player is Pakistani skipper Sarfraz Ahmed. Sarfraz has done exactly what all the other skippers could not do- he is the first captain from the country to get his hands on the coveted Champions Trophy. While many are contemplating over the number of years Sarfraz can represent the national team, head coach Mickey Arthur has predicted that his trusted war general will be able to do so at least for another couple of years more, until the World Cup 2019.

The wicketkeeper-batsman from Karachi, Sind is 30 years old now. Arthur said that the skipper will be able to continue till the 2019 World Cup when he will be 32. He also added that while talking to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Willing to back the young players

The South African has always been transparent on one matter- he won’t think twice before sacrificing experience for youth, provided youth can run an extra mile. He axed the veteran Pakistani batsman Umar Akmal from the Champions Trophy side as Akmal failed to clear two successive fitness tests.

He cleared his intentions by stating that the youngsters can expect more international opportunities as long as he is the leader of the pack. “We need to give these young cricketers more opportunities in the international arena,” Arthur said.