LAHORE: Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ehsan Mani on Wednesday said that he has full faith in Sarfraz Ahmed as Pakistan captain across all formats.
Mani’s comments come after Mohsin Khan, the chairman of a newly formed PCB committee, suggested that Sarfraz be relieved of Test captaincy.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo Mani said, “I have full faith in Sarfraz as Pakistan captain. He is the Pakistan captain, that is completely unambiguous. He is the Pakistan captain today, there is no other consideration or thought in anyone’s mind.”
“He has the absolute support of the board,” the PCB chairman added.
Mohsin Khan had aired his views about Sarfraz during an interview with a local news channel. “I have said it before and I will say it now too, with Sarfraz I was saying you got a new guy in and don’t put the burden of three formats on him.”
“It will take such a physical load on him, T20s, ODIs and then Tests; if he is captain he will not get any mental relaxation.” “Sarfraz’s body language was so down. I felt sorry for him that he’s had so much pressure put on him, with T20s, ODIs and Tests. There’s no doubt he is so talented and it’s not as if he is 35-36.”
“He is young, he has a lot of time. That was my view before and it is now as well,” Khan had added.
On October 26, the PCB announced a four-member special committee to oversee all cricketing matters in the country. Former cricketer and selector Mohsin Khan was named the chairman of the committee. Former captains Wasim Akram, Misbah-ul-Haq, Urooj Mumtaz are the other three members of the committee.
The four-member committee will meet the chief selector and coach (men, women and junior teams) three times in a year, and review plans for the development of umpires, referees and curators.
According to PCB sources, the team management and the selection committee are unhappy with Khan’s comments about Sarfraz.
“It is incorrect to say such things about an in-form captain who just led the team to a Test series win against Australia,” the sources said.
“Before becoming the chairman Mohsin used unacceptable words for coach Mickey Arthur [too],” the sources added.
“People were not taken into confidence over the appointment of the committee chairman,” the sources said, adding, “Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq is not happy with the formation of the committee.”
