Shahid Afridi lauds PCB's step to appoint Sarfaraz Ahmed as the skipper for the World Cup 2019

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday cleared a snowballing confusion over Sarfaraz Ahmed – whether he will captain the Men in Green in the ICC World Cup starting in May. Sarfaraz, who leads Pakistan in all three formats, was handed a four-match ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for using a racial slur against South African cricketer Andile Phehlukwayo during a recent ODI in Durban.

The 31-year-old wicket-keeper-batsman was called back by the PCB to Pakistan midway into the ODI series and Shoaib Malik took over for the remaining ODIs and the three-match T20I series. Speculation was rife that he might not be leading Pakistan in the World Cup even though his ban ended within the South Africa tour itself.

On February 5, the PCB confirmed that there was no name other than Sarfaraz as the side’s captain at the mega event kicking off on May 30. PCB chairman Ehsan Mani announced him as Pakistan’s captain for the WC and the cricketer also expressed his gratitude for being given the responsibility. Sarfaraz will be looking to repeat his feat of leading Pakistan to win the Champions Trophy in England in 2017 when they thumped arch-rivals India in the final.

Ideal opportunity for Sarfaraz

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi lauded Pakistan over the move and backed Sarfaraz Ahmed, too, saying he should be backed from all quarters. In a tweet, he said this makes an ideal opportunity for the Pakistan skipper. The former world champions will launch their WC campaign on May 31 when they take on two-time winners Windies in Nottingham.

Sarfaraz’s biggest challenge in the round-robin stage in the showpiece event will be playing India in Manchester on June 16. Pakistan have lost all games they have played against the arch-rivals in the quadrennial tournament. Afridi, who still plays franchise cricket, took part in five World Cups between 1999 and 2015, and led the side to the semi-final in the 2011 edition.

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