Brushing aside all rumours regarding change in skipper of national cricket team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani has announced that Sarfraz Ahmed will continue captaining the Pakistan cricket team in the upcoming series against Australia as well as Cricket World Cup 2019.
He made the announcement in a media briefing alongwith Sarfraz Ahmed, here at Qadhafi Stadium, Lahore on Tuesday. Earlier, Sarfraz met with the PCB chairman in which various matters including performance of Team Pakistan in the ongoing series against South Africa were discussed, sources said, adding: "PCB chairman asked Sarfraz to focus on his performance and show better results leading the team in a more effective way without indulging in any controversy as was happened in the South Africa after which he had to face four matches ban."
Ehsan Mani, however, in his media briefing said, "There is only one captain of the Pakistan cricket team and it will remain so." He praised Sarfraz Ahmed for his skills as a captain and a cricketer. He recalled that Sarfraz Ahmed first came into the limelight while leading Pakistan's team to victory in the 2006 Under-19 World Cup against India in which Pakistan emerged victorious despite low score. He said he called the then PCB chairman Sheharyar M. Khan and praised Sarfraz for his skills as a skipper.
"Sarfraz has made great progress since he led the team in the Under-19 World Cup, he has only improved with time," Mani said, adding: "There should be no doubt that Sarfaraz is the Pakistan cricket team's captain. He will lead the team in the series against Australia and also in the World Cup."
The PCB Chairman said: "I was always clear in my mind that Sarfraz would be the captain. Sarfraz has been an integral part of the Pakistan's World Cup preparations. He has proved to be a good strategist, leader and performer."
He further said Sarfraz led Pakistan to Champions Trophy 2017 title as well as to top of the International Cricket Council's Twenty20 International rankings. To a question, Mani said that we review the performance of the team as well as players after every series as per international practice.
Sarfraz Ahmed, who accompanied Mani at the media briefing, said that he was grateful for the opportunity to lead Pakistan cricket team in the upcoming World Cup. "I feel proud to be joining the list of cricketers that led the Pakistan cricket team into world cups in the past. We will try our best to perform well in the mega event," he said.
Answering a question, Sarfraz said, "Since I started captaining the team, I did not think so far ahead into the future and worry about if I would be the team's captain in a year's time or not. I focused on my responsibilities on a series-to-series basis and will continue to do so."
He said he is convinced that they are in a good shape for the World Cup. "We have top quality talent and match-winners with a committed support staff in the dressing room," he said.
To another question, Sarfraz said, "In the lead up to the World Cup, Pakistan will play five ODIs each against Australia and England, which will also allow us the opportunity to further fine-tune our preparations. I am sure we'll prove ourselves at the World Cup."
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