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Is Sarfraz Ahmed the right choice as Pakistan's Test captain?

Is Sarfraz Ahmed the right choice as Pakistan's next Test captain?

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MenInG

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Is it too early for Sarfraz or is he ready now?
 
Yes and No. Not fit enough to lead and keep in three different formats along with PSL and other leagues, however, Pak doesn't play much cricket and there are no other options to lead the test side as Azhar doesn't want to lead the side anymore.
 
Of course, He was ready since a while back. In my opinion he is the one who will lead us to test series victories in Aus/SA.

Sarfraz is someone who thrives in captaincy role and I hope he works on constructing his innings better as he is good enough with the bat too.

We should give him sometime as test team will be really new but I have full faith that he will deliver results.
 
How is this even a question?

He is unquestionably the best captain of the guys we have available, and he has been playing all the formats for 3 years and never had any injury concerns.

The people who don't want him as test captain are the same people who supported Azhar for ODI captain 2 years ago- some people are just happy with mediocrity and no. 6 ranking
 
There is no other option

The failure of Azhar Ali in LOIs proved that he isn't good enough and Asad Shafiq does not give consistent performances to justify himself being the leader of the team.

Sarfraz is the only choice, others are all rookies.
 
Azhar or Shafique should have been made test captains.

Sarfraz has a LOI mindset and it wouldn't work much in tests.
 
CricFan2012 said:
Azhar or Shafique should have been made test captains.

Sarfraz has a LOI mindset and it wouldn't work much in tests.
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I agree

We need him to leads us in odi and take us to the number 1 position
One of the youngsters should be given a run in t20
Azhar or Shafiq can lead us in tests

No need to over work sarfaraz
 
He won't be too bad a choice but yes it would be better to have someone else so that he does not feel the pressure of all 3 format. He should be fresh for the shorter versions of the game and the selectors should avoid the burn out of one of their most reliable player. Captaining Pak is far tougher job than any other team.
Azhar may not have done well as an ODI captain but in Tests his semi defensive approach as a captain won't be harmful to the team as Test matches are different and I have this strong hunch that Azhar may actually turn into a great captain. He also commands good respect within the team and is a consistent performer.
 
CricFan2012 said:
Azhar or Shafique should have been made test captains.

Sarfraz has a LOI mindset and it wouldn't work much in tests.
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Absolutely ridiculous point.

1. Why is his mindset LOI? Because he did something no one has done in 50 years, he's now only a LOI captain?
2. If you mean aggression, is that not allowed in test matches? What about Ponting or Imran Khan?
3. Is he incapable of adapting his mindset if need be? Is he that one dimensional?
4. You've made a judgement without any evidence whatsoever. He's never captained in tests.
5. Shafiq has never captained but he's a better choice? On what basis? He's even behind Sarfraz in his place being guaranteed in the side.
6. Azhar Ali has already failed as a captain. Hard to see why he would be good in a different format.
 
Blitz said:
Absolutely ridiculous point.

1. Why is his mindset LOI? Because he did something no one has done in 50 years, he's now only a LOI captain?
2. If you mean aggression, is that not allowed in test matches? What about Ponting or Imran Khan?
3. Is he incapable of adapting his mindset if need be? Is he that one dimensional?
4. You've made a judgement without any evidence whatsoever. He's never captained in tests.
5. Shafiq has never captained but he's a better choice? On what basis? He's even behind Sarfraz in his place being guaranteed in the side.
6. Azhar Ali has already failed as a captain. Hard to see why he would be good in a different format.
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Azhars type of captaincy is very similar to Misbahs, and Misbah succeeded in test level with it.

The reason Azhar failed in LOI was because he was given awful batsmen to work with barring Babar, so was Misbah, but Misbah had the luxury of 2 chuckers cheating for him.

Sarfraz's has only scored in UAE, in those few series where all Pakistani batsmen feasted, let him notch some centuries overseas first, something that both Azhar and Shafique have done.
 
This is going to be a difficult decision.

One day and Test are very different.

Thing is, you need to look at the captaincy record of the players at First Class level. Simple as that.

I don't know how good Sarfraz Ahmed is as captain at first class. But Hafeez is proven to be an effective captain for SNGPL.
 
the decision is going to be very crucial. Because the moment the test captain is named, we have to hope that he doesn't get changed soon.

Problem is, our test team is very settled at the moment. The moment you change captaincy,you end up ruining the test team's whole environment, creating more problems etc.

I'm even open to Fawad Alam being captain if he has a proven track record with pakistan A or domestic First Class as captain.

Only that captain will succeed who has a proven track record in First Class as captain.
 
The kind of aggression sarfaraz showed in ODIs is text book definition of what to do as a test captain.
 
Azhar Ali is the more deserving as a test captain and it should go to him.

Azhar failed as an ODI captain we all know but that was bound to happen when you bring a player into format who was never tailor made for that and also a newbie to the format... He was like the darren sammy and holder kinda made captain...

In tests he has experience, proven track record overseas all adds to his cap... Im sure he will do much better than his ODI captaincy and also more than what ppl think...

Sarfraz has not made his mark in test cricket yet except his run a ball 50s and 1 or 2 tons in UAE... just being captain is not the requirement, more as a cricketer who can make the 11 as first name in the sheet with performance alone needs to be made as captain...
 
I'll vote no, for reasons mentioned here & previously discussed in detail. But, it's true that there is no better option.

This is a mess of Misbah era - no succession plan. Azhar could have been a far better Test Captain than his ODI or T20 (LQ) show - simple reason being, he is good at his job in Test, which he isn't in LO. It's like appointing a Naval Comando, team leader of para commandos for a mountain operation!!!!

But that 2 years ODI captaincy has attached a stigma around Azhar - he'll be criticized for every decision that back fiered, though the decision it self might be the best one in that situation. PAK can't afford a batting struggle from Azhar because of Captaincy pressure.

Sarfraz has to be backed for this one & they should appoint someone like Amir deputy. At least hope that they don't appoint a 30 years old Captain & 32 years old deputy ......
 
It's telling that many of the ones who are saying no also were against him being odi captain


Yes it's big challenge for him, but after being only the second pak captain to win an odi title surely he deserves a go
 
Will ask the posters here who are saying Azhar will be a good test captain to give me just one instance of his 'good' captaincy even in domestic ... Not two noy three just 1 instance.

Sacked from Lahore Qalandar t20 , sacked from Pak odi and now posters want him to be sacked d from test captain too.

It's not a surprise that the same posters said Sarfraz won't be a good odi captain and voiced Umar Amin to be the next captain. My honest anf humble suggestion to all is please start watching domestic matches apart from psl. Just because a person is educated, good looking, good English speaker doesnt mean he will be a good captain. Matches are won on-field not in interviews and press conferences. Btw can someone please give me the captaincy record of Umar Amin and Azhar Ali in domestic??
 
The force is strong with Sarfraz Skywalker :)

He's got a great momentum. Hard times are coming for our test team. So, no matter who we select as a captain would be criticized and eventually most people would demand that Sarfraz should be the captain. So, appointing him captain in all formats is the correct decision IMHO.

Pak cricket is not like English/Aussie or even Indian cricket :misbah
 
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Lol anyone who says Azhar Ali should be our Test captain doesn't watch cricket and is delusional. Sarfraz won the CT 2017 as his first major assignment and you don't have to be "defensive" to be good at Test cricket, aggressive captaincy in Tests works fine; you can see Kohli doing pretty well as Test captain if you want a look ahead somewhere.

The idea that Sarfraz shouldn't be Test captain because of what he achieved so far as a batsman in Tests (run a ball 50's, 3 tons) is plain stupid. Just because Azhar is a world-class Test batsman doesn't mean he's going to be a good Test captain, he got sacked as PSL and ODI captain because his track record is horrendous, he's got zero impact as captain and accepts defeat like it's normal.

I'm not saying Sarfraz will be better than Misbah but he's better than any other candidate we have in the team. And no, Asad Shafiq is not fit to lead a team either.
 
Sarfraz might lose a series here and there in UAE because he doesn't have the luxury of world class players of spin like Younis but please be patient and give him time. I believe he will lead us to series victory in Sa/Aus and personally series victory in those countries > series loss in UAE.

I hope Sarfraz backs good players of fast bowling like Azhar , Babar and Haris. Must improve and work on constructing his innings better as he is one of the better players of spin in our country.
 
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waleed88 said:
Yes we should make Amir our vice captain, someone who has brought global shame to Pakistan by getting involved in spot fixing... why not bring back Salman Butt and make him captain again?
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It's a bit hypocritical statement - unless you are not willing to rejoice PAK's CT win - his batting against SRL & bowling in Final.

He brought more shame on himself. If that's an issue than, he shouldn't have been called back at all. Captaincy isn't an upper class that you can represent national team, but can't be made Captain.
 
MMHS said:
It's a bit hypocritical statement - unless you are not willing to rejoice PAK's CT win - his batting against SRL & bowling in Final.

He brought more shame on himself. If that's an issue than, he shouldn't have been called back at all. Captaincy isn't an upper class that you can represent national team, but can't be made Captain.
Click to expand...

Captaincy is the responsibility of the whole team on your shoulders, that is just a whole lot of pressure and attention for no reason, everything comes under scrutiny from you..

Whether its a 'dil baray nahi hain' statement, biting the ball, or asking bowlers to overstep, this sort of thing captures public mind and image...

Recently sarfraz was criticized everywhere for first giving a statement like 'yea indians are afraid of us', from then singing 'mauka mauka' with the fans..

Imagine someone with a past criminal record serving as your captain.. it won't be healthy for the team or for the guy himself
 
MMHS said:
It's a bit hypocritical statement - unless you are not willing to rejoice PAK's CT win - his batting against SRL & bowling in Final.

He brought more shame on himself. If that's an issue than, he shouldn't have been called back at all. Captaincy isn't an upper class that you can represent national team, but can't be made Captain.
Click to expand...

Secondly performance of a player doesn't equate to making him captain. A captain is the guy responsible the team, if it were upto me I would make sure Amir doesn't even have a scent of captaincy, considering these things could happen once again, captain ends up in the wrong hands etc. The epidemic still exists your best batsmen just recently got ensnared and now faces a ban
 
waleed88 said:
Captaincy is the responsibility of the whole team on your shoulders, that is just a whole lot of pressure and attention for no reason, everything comes under scrutiny from you..

Whether its a 'dil baray nahi hain' statement, biting the ball, or asking bowlers to overstep, this sort of thing captures public mind and image...

Recently sarfraz was criticized everywhere for first giving a statement like 'yea indians are afraid of us', from then singing 'mauka mauka' with the fans..

Imagine someone with a past criminal record serving as your captain.. it won't be healthy for the team or for the guy himself
Click to expand...

Nothing will be an issue if team/individual performs. Like you most Italians don't even know that someone Paolo Rossi went to win World Cup, Golden Ball, Golden Boot, Ballon'D Orr .... direct from jail, where he was serving terms for fixing. 😝

Or take other way - Azhar is as fantastic person - educated, clean image, comited, he must he respected every where ...... but for a reason many were laughing at his team, when he was captain.

Smell the coffee - like me you must have voted in national election; I did & I knew for whom I am casting & who is actually he or she like - still I did.

This should give you a clue how to act - don't kill someone because he is defenceless & because you can't do anything to a bigger criminal.
 
MMHS said:
Nothing will be an issue if team/individual performs. Like you most Italians don't even know that someone Paolo Rossi went to win World Cup, Golden Ball, Golden Boot, Ballon'D Orr .... direct from jail, where he was serving terms for fixing. ��

Or take other way - Azhar is as fantastic person - educated, clean image, comited, he must he respected every where ...... but for a reason many were laughing at his team, when he was captain.

Smell the coffee - like me you must have voted in national election; I did & I knew for whom I am casting & who is actually he or she like - still I did.

This should give you a clue how to act - don't kill someone because he is defenceless & because you can't do anything to a bigger criminal.
Click to expand...

Was he captain? Secondly captaining in football is not the same thing is captaining in cricket so wrong example...

In cricket the captain is the manager + captain of the side
 
waleed88 said:
Was he captain? Secondly captaining in football is not the same thing is captaining in cricket so wrong example...

In cricket the captain is the manager + captain of the side
Click to expand...

Paolo Rossi wasn't the Captain of Italy, Zoff was.😩

In cricket, Captain is the most important role - that's why it should be given to someone who can carry the "load".
 
MMHS said:
Paolo Rossi wasn't the Captain of Italy, Zoff was.��

In cricket, Captain is the most important role - that's why it should be given to someone who can carry the "load".
Click to expand...

Which Amir can't he's already averaging in the 30s, and can't find a wicket if his life depended on it, poor lad will have to consider his batting options if he wants to remain in the side as a player
 
waleed88 said:
Which Amir can't he's already averaging in the 30s, and can't find a wicket if his life depended on it, poor lad will have to consider his batting options if he wants to remain in the side as a player
Click to expand...

Find someone better than him to take new ball before looking at the average. In this team, there are handful of players who are automatic choice in 3 formats, he is one of them. His batting is actually more effective than it shows to people that watch cricket in CricInfo - PAK owes a CT to his batting.
 
MMHS said:
Find someone better than him to take new ball before looking at the average. In this team, there are handful of players who are automatic choice in 3 formats, he is one of them. His batting is actually more effective than it shows to people that watch cricket in CricInfo - PAK owes a CT to his batting.
Click to expand...

Yes, his highest score is a 40 in a test match, and after that a 28, rest of the times he has failed... next Wasim Akram I suppose
 
ExplicitAI said:
Lol anyone who says Azhar Ali should be our Test captain doesn't watch cricket and is delusional. Sarfraz won the CT 2017 as his first major assignment and you don't have to be "defensive" to be good at Test cricket, aggressive captaincy in Tests works fine; you can see Kohli doing pretty well as Test captain if you want a look ahead somewhere.

The idea that Sarfraz shouldn't be Test captain because of what he achieved so far as a batsman in Tests (run a ball 50's, 3 tons) is plain stupid. Just because Azhar is a world-class Test batsman doesn't mean he's going to be a good Test captain, he got sacked as PSL and ODI captain because his track record is horrendous, he's got zero impact as captain and accepts defeat like it's normal.

I'm not saying Sarfraz will be better than Misbah but he's better than any other candidate we have in the team. And no, Asad Shafiq is not fit to lead a team either.
Click to expand...

Kohli is a defensive captain.He is quick to put the field back when Ashwin or Jadeja is hit for a boundary.
 
Sarfaraz is the only choice.

PCB killed Azhars chances off by making him odi captain. He can't be test captain as the pressure on him now would be too much, also he has to carry the batting. Had Azhar not been made odi captain at all I would have gone with him.

Sarfaraz should be made captain with Amir or Babar being made deputy.
 
The question of right or wrong does not arise when there are no alternatives. He is the only choice at this point.
 
sarfraz is not only the best captain in Pakistan right now, he is the best captain to lead any team in the cricket right now

some pople saying he is the only choice in pakistan, if sarfraz is compared with the rest, he would be pretty much preferred over others easily, just based on his captaincy

dunno what some people are smoking here

azhar ali to be more deserving than sarfraz is nothing but a joke, dunno what people are snorting out there thinking about this

yes sarfraz maybe burdered with too much responsibility but the question is about deserving and not desering, its not about whether he should be given captaincy based on additional responsibility or not

yes sarfraz based on his captaincy deserves every bit of test captaincy but whether he should be putting on such a burden is another question not related to this thread
 
given azhar has a proven record of bad captaincy to expect him to somehow deliver in tests is nothing but idiotic thinking

to say amir, babar can be future captains is just like throwing spear in the air there is no proof that amir and babar or imad can be good captains

enough experiements were done on inzemam ul haq, muhammad yusuf, shaoib malik, misbah ul haq, azhar ali, muhammad hafeez, shahid afridi

one needs a sound brain to be a good captain and leadership skills, not every good player can have those
 
I think, the Captaincy question is worthless here - there is no one else. Only realistic option was Azhar, before he was exposed as ODI Captain. In some other thread I wrote that, it's more important, who they appoint as Sarfraz's deputy - he'll be badly needed in 2 years time, maximum 2.5, after 2020 T20 WC. That time it shouldn't be the same bottleneck situation.
 
CricFan2012 said:
Azhars type of captaincy is very similar to Misbahs, and Misbah succeeded in test level with it.

The reason Azhar failed in LOI was because he was given awful batsmen to work with barring Babar, so was Misbah, but Misbah had the luxury of 2 chuckers cheating for him.

Sarfraz's has only scored in UAE, in those few series where all Pakistani batsmen feasted, let him notch some centuries overseas first, something that both Azhar and Shafique have done.
Click to expand...

Sarfraz is a wicket-keeper batsman and he has done reasonably well for the position he has batted he also played a great innings in Aus last year trying to save a test he scored a run a ball 70.

The point is he is not going to be compared to Azhar or Shafiq since they are both genuine batsman and bat higher up the order they should be scoring more, and I'm not saying the Sarfraz shouldn't but there is no better WK-Batsman in Pakistan than Sarfraz and he is also a great captain. To add to the point Shafiq has been pathetic, way to inconsistent for a guy who has played for 7 years. Azhar is in a different league to Shafiq now his average has dropped below 40. He scores 1/2 good knocks in series and does nothing for the rest of the series.
 
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