The major issue I had with Azhar being appointed captain apart from the obvious lack of experience is that he is 30 years old already. So this flies into face of one of the main reasons being given that he is going to be a long term captain. You cannot plan for someone to play till they are 40 like Misbah. You plan them to be over the hill by the time they are 35 and going byy that token he only has one WC campaign in him. And who knows when the test captaincy spot becomes vacant.
Azhar is a gamble too because of him being raw and untested in captaincy. So why take a gamble where the potential returns if he is successful wont be for that long. If you are gonna gamble anyways then might aswell pick someone with atleast 2 potential WCs in him. Which is why Sarfaraz was a better bet in my opinion. Or even Fawad Alam. Both have a lot of captaincy experience atleast. nd Hafeez would have been a low risk option but the rewards would have been same
Another issue is that this pretty much takes out the possibility of Sarfaraz becoming a full time captain ever in the future. As VC, you are:
a) a future successor of the current captain, and/or
b)at the very least seen as part of the same group and hence the associated thinking in terms of strategy and ethos.
So if Sarfaraz ever is in a position to become the captain it will most likely be because Azhar is totally messing it up as a leader and was sacked rather than him coming to end of his cycle or an era ending. It most certainly wont be a voluntary stepping down from Azhar's part and even if it is it wont be for any other reason than being pressured to do so because of results. But Sarfaraz being tied to the Waqar, Azhar team would mean that the likelihood that will be low.
Usually when a captain is sacked the idea is to move on from his failures and what he stands for, meaning that his whole team (him, VC, head coach etc) goes with the possible exception of the head coach if he was not part of the whole time duration of captaincy. So in such a case it will be highly unlikely that PCB will turn to Sarfaraz as the next captain unless he has been his own man all this time and disassociates from the rest which doesn't seem to be his personality.
So in these decisions, PCB has firstly taken a gamble where the reward is low for the risk taken. And then in one swoop it has effectively curtailed the future captaincy ambitions of Sarfaraz in case of Azhar;s failure.
PCB should either have taken a huge gamble with a younger captain where the returns in case of success would have been greater or longer or should have gone the low risk, experienced choice like Hafeez or Malik imo. This Azhar appontment doesn't serve a whole lot
Very good post, some valid points. However, I would like to see it other way as well.
Regarding Azhar's age, actually 30 isn't that bad an age for a batsman-Captain to debut. Imran was appointed Captain at 29, despite being a fast bowler while S Waugh was 33, but yes Azhar is not........ However, I think, Azhar is a genuine 30 - I don't see age much of a problem; besides, he is extremely fit, a safe hand & decent fielder, 'll not be a MoYo/Inzi like burden in inner circle.
Azhar is a limited batsman, but extremely hard working & mentally tough player. Batsman of his type, normally reaches their pick at a bit matured age, because, they make up their lagging in natural ability with experience & determination. In that regard, I think, Azhar has just entered into his best days as a batsman and next 4/5 years, he 'll be at his batting best (players like him enjoys best period between 29 to 35 - one of the best example is probably the man he has just replaced as PAK ODI Captain). Now, weather he 'll be able to transform that into an effective ODI top order batsman, that has to be seen - that risk is there indeed.
What could have been other options - MoHa, Malik? No doubt, better short-term solutions, but, standing 50 months before next WC, appointing someone in mid 30s (& probably in decline) is just as I said somewhere else - shortsightedness, which PCB commited last time. Appointing one of them Captain & a young deputy has it's own risk as well - chances are high that Malik or MoHa 'll try to prolong their tenure (& career) at the expense of the younger incumbent (deputy) through off-field antics. Besides, Malik has to make the team as player first & both of them were actually sacked last time - may be a fresh start with someone new is not bad. Appointing MoHa, 'll need swallowing lots of humble pie, for very little gain - may be, 4 years back at 30/31, MoHa was the best choice, but then PCB opted for the then MoHa - 36 years old Misbah.
Apparently ideal candidate looks to be Sarfraz - not even 28 yet (Officially, I must say), almost certain as automatic starter for next few years, has domestic & International Captaincy experience (& success, albeit at Junior level)
AND most importantly - he makes the team as a player, Azhar had to be drafted in as Captain first. But, I think, PCB was looking for someone with a bit of education & a better personality, who 'll not be Management headache. I agree your concern about sacking a Captain - the whole establishment comes under scrutiny, BUT, for Azhar's case, I see it other way.
If Azhar is sacked as Captain, I am certain, it 'll be due to his failure as an ODI player, not because of being an incompetent Captain. So, if Azhar is sacked, I think it 'll be managed without any negative impact to the set-up - if it can be managed properly. For outer world, Azhar 'll step down on personal grounds & retire from ODI team to focus on Test career & it 'll be a smooth transition for Sarfraz from deputy to boss (It 'll never be Afridi like case, where the sacked Captain 'll be retained as player to bite back). Positive side is, by 2019, PAK 'll have a Captain, who makes the starting XI on merit, has couple of years of Captaincy experience (& before that, couple of years of being deputy).
I see it as positive for Sarfraz - at 27/28, leading the side & being WK for all 3 versions, might be too much for him. He is destined to become the T20 Captain in a years time, I am sure, PCB has better plans with someone they are investing so much, than scrapping for the failure of his ODI boss. Besides, Azhar actually isn't new in Captaincy domestically - he has led Sui Gas (& led Misbah, MoHa I believe), as well was appointed Captain on KP Side recently - I don't think these were just by coincidence.
I agree with you MoHa/Malik-Sarfraz/Fawad is a low risk-low gain solution, but Azhar-Sarfraz could be a low risk-high gain solution as well. Sarfraz is tactically decent, street smart, great fighter; might not be articulate, communicative enough. He can improve his weaker side under someone like Azhar & take over from him in 4 years time at 32, for next 4 years. May be Azhar/Sarfraz pair 'll be much more productive than say Misbah/Afridi in the coming 4 years, if they complement each others weaker sides.
I don't see much merit either in any combination if you choose between Sarfraz/Shehzad/Fawad/Haris/Maqsood - it's high risk, low gain situation. Knowing a bit of history, any combination with Sarfraz/Shehzad/Fawad/Haris/Maqsood - MoHa/Malik/YK is a Low gain - disaster solution.
Why no quoting him?
