Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf, has convened a high-stakes one-on-one meeting with former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Sources within the PCB have disclosed that the meeting, scheduled for Friday, could have significant implications for the ongoing debate surrounding the captaincy of the national team, particularly in light of Babar Azam’s recent struggles and Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Pakistan’s campaign in the World Cup took a nosedive as they suffered three consecutive defeats after a promising start, with their most recent loss to Afghanistan causing consternation among cricket fans and former players.
Zaka Ashraf’s recent meetings with former cricketers such as Aaqib Javed, Mohammad Yousaf, and PCB Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq aimed to garner expert advice on enhancing player development. However, the one-on-one meeting with Sarfaraz Ahmed is viewed as pivotal in shaping the future leadership of the national cricket team.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, during his tenure as captain, led Karachi Whites to their fifth Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title with an emphatic victory over Faisalabad. This triumph highlights his leadership abilities, raising questions about whether he could be a viable option for captaincy once more.
Meanwhile, on the field, Pakistan faces a must-win situation as they take on South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today. South Africa currently sits second on the World Cup points table with a net run rate of +2.370 from four matches, while Pakistan is languishing in sixth place with a net run rate of -0.400, following successive defeats to India, Australia, and Afghanistan.
Babar Azam, the world’s number one ODI batsman, is under immense pressure to deliver with the bat, with speculation rife that his captaincy may be on the line if Pakistan fails to qualify for the World Cup semi-finals.
Cricket enthusiasts worldwide will be closely monitoring the outcome of Zaka Ashraf’s meeting with Sarfaraz Ahmed, as it could chart a new course for Pakistan’s cricketing future and the ongoing captaincy conundrum.
