Fresh off a humiliating T20 World Cup campaign, Pakistan’s cricket setup is undergoing a massive overhaul. Big names like Babar Azam and Naseem Shah were axed from the ODI series squad against Bangladesh, hinting at deeper reforms. In the Test arena, former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed emerges as a frontrunner for head coach, buoyed by his success mentoring juniors.
According to insiders, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi held talks with Sarfaraz, who is eager to team up with Shan Masood for the red-ball revival. The duo’s camaraderie might help Pakistan improve its lowly World Test Championship position. With Tests lined up against West Indies and England this summer, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Enter Shahid Afridi, the Boom Boom who won the 2017 Champions Trophy as captain. He vehemently opposes Sarfaraz’s candidacy, championing Younis Khan instead. ‘Younis has amassed more than 10,000 Test runs and excels in endurance cricket. He’s perfect for the Test side,’ Afridi argued to reporters.
The hot seat has sat empty since Azhar Mahmood’s premature departure last December. Sarfaraz brings 54 Test caps and leadership pedigree, but Afridi insists Younis’s batting pedigree trumps all. As PCB deliberates, this clash of opinions highlights the passion and division defining Pakistan cricket’s future direction.