Who will be Sarfaraz Ahmed's replacement as captain in the future?

[moghul]

Sarfraz is currently leading the team all three formats. Not an all time great player or captain by any means but in a way he is lucky that there are too many are there to challenge him. But that's not a good scenario for Pakistan cricket to be in .

A sudden drop in form or fitness of the current capatin can lead us to a situation where we will be looking for a replacement captain. But , looking at the squad, we have very few options at the moment. The only player who I can see a captaincy material is yet to make his test debut and not much experience at international level. I'm talking about Fakhar. Amir is only other option for test team, but not a great option and what I heard, he is not keen on playing test on regular basis.

Similarly, in ODI, no good candidate, other than Fakhar.
T20, again Fakhar and Imad , no one else,

We need to work on finding and groom some new leaders, sooner than later.

 

[Itachi]

Sadly it was Umar akmal who was bound to play that role....

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Not a great captain?? Define who/what is a great captain then?

He is the best Pakistani captain I have seen in my 22 years of watching cricket. Sorry i am done with fixers, oath takers, politicians, ego maniacs and selfish captains.

He is limited in talent but is a fighter who plays his heart out for PAKISTAN, no personal glory crap! Thats the thing which probably matters the most in a National captain. I am pretty sure he will leave captaincy as soon as he feels his time is up and is producing no value to the side. Wont drag himself playing till eternity.

Sarfraz will lead Pakistan cricket to new heights, you can mark this post!

There is no second option now, groom Fakhar, Faheem and Shady for this role.

 

[badsha001]

Fauji is the second in line to become the captain...

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Worryingly I don't see any suitable replacement in tests atm.If Sarfraz gets injured or unavailable the other option is..Azhar Ali.

 

[Big Mac]

Fine. I'll do it

 

[moghul]

I'm OK with Sarfraz as the captain now, and not questioning his credibility , was seeking opinions who would replace him in future and who could be groomed for the job.

 

[MMHS]

Really difficult to solve - has to be split Captaincy. It's easier to find LO Captain, but Test Captaincy is in real trouble; in fact Sarfraz barely holding no to it for lack of options. This is one reason, I thought extending YK for 18 months as Captain wasn't a bad idea.

I think, eventually that ODI Captaincy cost Azhar a good shot at Test Captaincy, otherwise he was the best option for couple of years at least. Apart from him only other player settled in Test team is Yasir, still struggling for fitness. To be honest, only other option is Amir, who could leave Test career - still, I think he can carry as Test Captain till 2023. If Amin could seal his Test spot, could have been an option, but nothing much.

For LO, there are lot more options and quite good one. I think, they should appoint one Captain for LO and 2 deputies for ODI & T20. My choice would be Amir for Captaincy, among Babar, FZ & Shadab as Deputy. Amir can lead the side till 2023 WC at least, by that time Shadab should be ready (around 25-26). Ideally, Babar should have been automatic choice for Captaincy, at least deputy, but hee sounds too naive for the top job now - may be in future he'll mature, but certainly not now. For the time being FZ can be a very good deputy, in case of injuries to Amir. Besides, PAK has to rotate fast bowlers for workload sharing - in any case Amir shouldn't play every LO.

Summary:

Test: Captain Amir/Azhar, Deputy Babar/Azhar (Bottom line is Azhar should be holding 1 of the 2 spots - with a condition that he'll retire from ODI, if possible List A cricket). BUT, never Azhar Captain & Amir deputy - both might retire from Test at around same time.

ODI: Captain Amir, Deputy Babar/FZ. 2nd Deputy Shadab (When Amir is off, he is deputy). Appointing FZ as deputy has a problem that he is similar aged to Amir - after 4/5 years both might retire/out of form together. There should be few years gap between Captain & his deputy.

T20: Captain Amir/FZ, Deputy Shadab/Babar. But, I am not for appointing Amir Captain & FZ deputy for the reason mentioned earlier. Target should be 2024 WC - so next deputy should be at his prime at that time.

 

[Syed1]

Fauji will take over. He has captain written all over him. He can even speak English which is the most important criteria.

 

[PakSarZameen]

If Test Captaincy doesn't work out for him, I'd like Azhar to captain the Test side in the future. I would give Sarfraz up to the South Africa series.

If Test Captaincy does work out, I think he should give up T20 captaincy (and T20 cricket altogether) to ease his burden.

Fakhar would be a good option for T20 captaincy.

Captaining 2 formats are enough for a guy like Sarfraz.

 

[hadi123]

Tests: Azhar may be good

ODI and T20: Fakhar Zaman

But I'm happy with Sarfaraz for now

 

[Mercurial]

He is not good as a Test captain, he also struggles to accelerate down the order in LOIs, struggles to hit big, hence, things to ponder upon. He should be persisted with till the 2019 WC as an ODI captain, and as a T20I captain till the next WC. But, if he fails as a Test captain on this tour to England & Ireland, then he should be replaced by Imad Wasim in the Test format, as he can easily make it into the playing XI as a batting all rounder, even as a batsman, lol.

 

[moghul]

Really difficult to solve - has to be split Captaincy. It's easier to find LO Captain, but Test Captaincy is in real trouble; in fact Sarfraz barely holding no to it for lack of options. This is one reason, I thought extending YK for 18 months as Captain wasn't a bad idea.

I think, eventually that ODI Captaincy cost Azhar a good shot at Test Captaincy, otherwise he was the best option for couple of years at least. Apart from him only other player settled in Test team is Yasir, still struggling for fitness. To be honest, only other option is Amir, who could leave Test career - still, I think he can carry as Test Captain till 2023. If Amin could seal his Test spot, could have been an option, but nothing much.

For LO, there are lot more options and quite good one. I think, they should appoint one Captain for LO and 2 deputies for ODI & T20. My choice would be Amir for Captaincy, among Babar, FZ & Shadab as Deputy. Amir can lead the side till 2023 WC at least, by that time Shadab should be ready (around 25-26). Ideally, Babar should have been automatic choice for Captaincy, at least deputy, but hee sounds too naive for the top job now - may be in future he'll mature, but certainly not now. For the time being FZ can be a very good deputy, in case of injuries to Amir. Besides, PAK has to rotate fast bowlers for workload sharing - in any case Amir shouldn't play every LO.

Summary:

Test: Captain Amir/Azhar, Deputy Babar/Azhar (Bottom line is Azhar should be holding 1 of the 2 spots - with a condition that he'll retire from ODI, if possible List A cricket). BUT, never Azhar Captain & Amir deputy - both might retire from Test at around same time.

ODI: Captain Amir, Deputy Babar/FZ. 2nd Deputy Shadab (When Amir is off, he is deputy). Appointing FZ as deputy has a problem that he is similar aged to Amir - after 4/5 years both might retire/out of form together. There should be few years gap between Captain & his deputy.

T20: Captain Amir/FZ, Deputy Shadab/Babar. But, I am not for appointing Amir Captain & FZ deputy for the reason mentioned earlier. Target should be 2024 WC - so next deputy should be at his prime at that time.

You summarized it very well.

There was no reason to discard Azhar from test captaincy. He is our best test player, and at 33 still 10 years younger than our last test captain and could be a good option , if needed, for 3-4 years, if not longer.

Fakhar should be groomed for LOC captaincy in future, he should be the VC now.

If Fakhar establishes his test spot in next 1-2 years, he could be the future test and ODI captain and its easy to fins someone for T20 captaincy. Amir would not be a bad choice, even for ODIs.

Not everyone is a captaincy material , I would not consider, Babar or Hasan in potential captaincy list. Hasan after his " show" at Wahga border, did not leave a good impression on me, lacks class.

 

[Abdul]

Don't want Azhar getting the captaincy again in any format after how he was treated the last time. He's already been disrespected enough by everyone.

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

Fakhar Zaman

Has been an excellent captain in domestics too.

 

[Square Drive]

After the 2020 T20 WC, Imad should take over as T20I captain, with Amir as VC.

In ODIs, after the 2019 WC, Fakhar should officially be appointed VC. Second deputy should be Shadab. He has a thinking brain.

In Tests, after the 2019 WC, the VC should be Fakhar if he has established a place in the side by then. Otherwise, I'm willing to go for Babar. Azhar is too old and Shafiq too inconsistent (plus similar age to Sarfraz).

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Most probably Fauji will become the next captain for Pakistan.

 

[Slim]

Don't want Azhar getting the captaincy again in any format after how he was treated the last time. He's already been disrespected enough by everyone.

Thankgod, the whole Pakistan sighed in relief.

 

[ManFan]

Don't want Azhar getting the captaincy again in any format after how he was treated the last time. He's already been disrespected enough by everyone.

Disrespected?

He was made captain after having not played LOI's for over 2 years first game back!

And he bravely lead us to 5-0 in AUS and 4-1 in ENG.

Not to mention the one Test he captained in NZ resulted in a humiliating loss where PAK lost 9 wickets for 99 runs.

He tries his best as a player and deserves all the accolades for it but he should never have been made captain in the first place.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Fakhar in limited overs and Azhar in tests

 

[sshakir411]

Don't want Azhar getting the captaincy again in any format after how he was treated the last time. He's already been disrespected enough by everyone.

Lets not forget Azhar was selected to be captain out of nowhere when he couldn't even make the 20 for the WC earlier that year.....Azhar's appointment also robbed the other guy who was vice captain for a while and performing regularly in the LOI squad.

If you want privilege on display then look at Azhar's appointment as captain.

 

[HuzaifaE]

Amir has as much of a captain vibe as Smith did. Hint: none.
I'd gamble on Babar if I had to.

 

[Slim]

Disrespected?

He was made captain after having not played LOI's for over 2 years first game back!

And he bravely lead us to 5-0 in AUS and 4-1 in ENG.

Not to mention the one Test he captained in NZ resulted in a humiliating loss where PAK lost 9 wickets for 99 runs.

He tries his best as a player and deserves all the accolades for it but he should never have been made captain in the first place.

How can we forget the humiliation we suffered under him against the mighty bangladesh? That alone should get him banned from ever captaining Pakistan again.

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

He is not good as a Test captain, he also struggles to accelerate down the order in LOIs, struggles to hit big, hence, things to ponder upon. He should be persisted with till the 2019 WC as an ODI captain, and as a T20I captain till the next WC. But, if he fails as a Test captain on this tour to England & Ireland, then he should be replaced by Imad Wasim in the Test format, as he can easily make it into the playing XI as a batting all rounder, even as a batsman, lol.

No, thanks.Your suggestion is as mercurial as your username.

 

[ManFan]

How can we forget the humiliation we suffered under him against the mighty bangladesh? That alone should get him banned from ever captaining Pakistan again.

That also but at least he has the excuse of that being his first series.

But that should have raised some obvious flaws in his captaincy and yet the PCB decided to continue with him for another two years.

This is his record:
0-3 against BD in BD
2-0-1 against ZIM in PAK
3-2 against SL in SL
2-1 against ZIM in ZIM
1-4 against ENG in UAE
2-0 against NZ in NZ
1-4 against ENG in ENG
0-5 against AUS in AUS

Compare that to Sarfraz:
3-1 against WI in WI
4-1 in CT (Wins Tournament)
5-0 against SL in UAE
0-5 against NZ in NZ

 

[Ellipsism]

Zeeshan Malik looked a quality captain in the U-19 WC considering his inexperience, and this goes without saying he’s one of the best batting prospects in terms of openers in Pakistan.

Fakhar is nearly 30 as of now and considering Sarfraz is likely to continue for at least another a couple of years you wouldn’t want to appoint a new captain who’s at the latter stages of his career.

Babar doesn’t strike me as captaincy material. His own body language in the field is one of disinterest and he’s a timid character— not exactly qualities you want in a leader.

 

[PakLFC]

Try Hasan Ali as I love his aggression. He has the right desire and attitude. Ali Azhar is to soft, Babar Azam should be considered as well.

 

[DeadBall]

Babar doesn’t strike me as captaincy material. His own body language in the field is one of disinterest and he’s a timid character— not exactly qualities you want in a leader.

True doesn't look like a leader of men. Also one cannot learn this, either you have it or you don't.

 

[coy0607]

not a great captain? Most would say he is well on track to be the second best Pakistani captain ever...

anyways, he's not going anywhere for 2-3 years, especially given the strength of the young squad they are building now

and in 3 years, I expect a lot can change. Shadab, Babar, Amir, Fakhar, Haris, Talat could all be options to lead the team

if for whatever reason I had to make a change today, I would go with Shadab. He's talented, smart, contributes in every situation, and just seems like a leader

 

[Rana]

I think Imad Wasim in ODIs and T20i

He is a very underrated leader.

 

[ManFan]

True doesn't look like a leader of men. Also one cannot learn this, either you have it or you don't.

It can be taught.

There are literally so many types of leaders.

It depends on how badly the said individual wants it to happen.

 

[Hasan123]

Shadab Khan.

 

[ManFan]

Shadab Khan.

Sarfraz has a good 5 years left in him.

Shadab will only be 24 years of age.

That is too young and inexperienced to lead a team.

 

[Hasan123]

Sarfraz has a good 5 years left in him.

Shadab will only be 24 years of age.

That is too young and inexperienced to lead a team.

24/25 is a good age. He will have enough experience and should be a regular in all 3 formats.

 

[ManFan]

24/25 is a good age. He will have enough experience and should be a regular in all 3 formats.

I would wait until he is 27-28 to give him the job.

Those are usually the prime years for a leg-spinner and give him plenty of time to work out the game.

 

[Hasan123]

I would wait until he is 27-28 to give him the job.

Those are usually the prime years for a leg-spinner and give him plenty of time to work out the game.

Not many other opitions. He also has the personality to lead the team.

 

[PakLFC]

True doesn't look like a leader of men. Also one cannot learn this, either you have it or you don't.

You can learn captaincy. It is something a player grows in to over a period of time. There is no such thing as a "born leader" at all. Every great captain learns from previous ones they have played under. Babar should be analysing from other former captains like even Imran Khan did from Ian Chappell.