Former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal believes that wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed should be relieved of Test captaincy duties.

While speaking in an interview with PakPassion, the 75-year-old said that Sarfraz lacks the ability to adapt to different situation of Test match cricket.

“I understand that a few people are asking for Sarfraz Ahmed to be removed as captain of the Pakistan side and I am one of them,” said Iqbal. “In Test cricket, the biggest challenge is to concentrate for up to five days, at all times. As a captain, you not only need to plan ahead of the game in the dressing room, but also need to bring in your plans B and C, when things aren’t going your way during the game. In T20I and ODIs there isn’t much time to worry about plans, but this is crucial in Tests as you don’t only execute a plan but deal with the situation as it unfolds.”

Iqbal also felt the need for a calm hand behind the tiller — something which he does not associate with the current Pakistan Test captain.

“What is also needed is a calm head and it's important that one does not show his frustrations as a captain as the team looks up to their leader guidance,” he said. “He is a young man and the pressure of expectations to be the best in all formats of the game is possibly too much to bear for him.”

Although he admitted that the wicketkeeper-batsman is the ideal choice for captaincy in limited-overs cricket by saying: “Sarfraz is an ideal captain for Pakistan in the T20I and ODI formats as he has the right sort of passion which you need for the shorter forms of the game.”

Speaking about possible alternatives for Test captaincy role, Iqbal said that a settled batsman should take charge of the Pakistan side for a longer period of time.

“The Test captaincy should be handed to a batsman who is well-established and can hold his place in the side,” he said. “It may take a couple of years for the replacement to find his feat as Test captain and to settle down and gain confidence, but the selectors and team management need to give him that space and opportunity.”