Akram backs Sarfraz to continue as captain in all three formats

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has once again came out in support of Sarfraz Ahmed and has asked the wicketkeeper-batsman to continue leading the Men in Green in all three formats.

After an awful performance during the recently concluded New Zealand series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan team came under severe criticism and Sarfraz’s leadership was questioned.

However, the Green Caps failed to live up to the expectations in the ongoing Test series against South Africa as well where the team lost first two Tests by six and nine wickets margin respectively, which means the 31-year-old is now under more pressure than ever to step down from the post of captaincy in the longest format of the game.

Akram — widely regarded as one of the greatest left-arm pacer —not only backed Sarfraz, but also questioned critics to name his replacement.

“If anyone has another name to lead the Test side then reveal it because as far as I am concerned, there is absolutely no one else there who can lead the team in Test cricket other than Sarfraz,” said Akram while talking to the media on Tuesday. “Captaincy always bring some pressure and I am sure Sarfraz is feeling the heat. But just removing him from the post for the sake of removing a captain is neither fair with him nor with the team.”

He added: “I know the team is struggling but to be honest, Pakistan team always struggled in South Africa. Even during our times we had so many legendary players but we used to struggle in conditions in South Africa. So this is not something new.”

After Pakistan Head Coach Mickey Arthur, Akram also criticised the pitches in South Africa by saying: “To be honest, pitches in South Africa were extremely poor according to Test standards. I am sure if such pitches were produced by Pakistan, they would have been reported immediately.”