Azhar steps down as Pakistan ODI skipper
Under-fire ODI Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali has stepped down from the role with immediate effect following a dismal showing by the team in Australia.
Azhar’s leadership was reportedly the subject of much discussion as a meeting between team management and the Pakistan Cricket Board directly after the conclusion of the tour.
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told ESPNcricinfo: “Azhar agreed to relinquish his captaincy as he believed that his batting is being effected due to extra burden of leadership.
“I respect his decision and he will continue to play as batsman in one day team, but now we all decided that Sarfraz will be handed the ODI captaincy.”
Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed is a popular choice to succeed Azhar having achieved some success as the T20I skipper.
Despite copping a lot of flak for his leadership in the fifty over game it is believed that Azhar Ali will take over from Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq when he decides to retire from the game.
Pakistan have won just 12 of the 31 ODIs in which Azhar has been the captain and his defensive approach to batting has earned him more than his fair share of critics.
Azhar was injured for two of Pakistan’s matches in Australia and with Sarfraz absent having returned home to care for his mother opener Mohammad Hafeez led the team, achieving Pakistan’s only win on the tour.
The former skipper could not win a series against any of the major cricketing nations with his series triumphs coming against Zimbabwe (twice), Ireland, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
Azhar survived after the 4-1 loss to England but another defeat by the same margin in Australia left him with little alternative but to step down or be axed.
Latest
-
NewsHeather Knight accepts and understands Pakistan tour decision
The England Women captain says the decision was taken out of the team’s hands.
-
NewsNew Zealand keep series alive with three-wicket victory at Leicester
Katherine Brunt impressed for England but the hosts were beaten.
-
NewsBowlers shine as Lancashire bid to land Championship title
Hampshire were dismissed for 143 at Aigburth.
-
NewsECB acted alone in cancelling tour, says Britain’s high commissioner to Pakistan
Christian Turner appeared to distance the political establishment from the decision and insisting he supported the trip.
-
NewsRamiz Raja fears ‘West versus rest’ split in international cricket
The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman was responding to the cancellation of England’s tour next month.
-
NewsSecurity around England Women v NZ third ODI raised after ‘threatening email’
The game, at Leicestershire’s Uptonsteel County Ground, is due to go ahead as planned with a 1pm start.
-
NewsWhat was the safety issue and how has England’s decision gone down in Pakistan?
The ECB has pulled its men’s and women’s teams out of next month’s planned white-ball tour of Pakistan.
-
NewsEngland cancel Pakistan tour due to ‘mental and physical well-being’ concerns
PCB chair Ramiz Raja accused England of “failing a member of their cricket fraternity when it needed it most”.
-
NewsEngland men’s and women’s Pakistan tour cancelled due to ‘well-being’ concerns
The players had been due to head out next month.
-
NewsWarwickshire title hopes boosted by availability of Chris Woakes
The Bears sit second in the table heading into Tuesday’s final round of fixtures, just 3.5 points behind Hampshire.