Umar Gul rates Sarfaraz and Babar as captains, Amir and Shaheen as pacers

Former Pakistan pacer, Umar Gul, believes Sarfaraz Ahmed is a superior captain compared to Babar Azam.

When asked to compare the two, Gul expressed his preference for Sarfaraz in terms of captaincy.

Under Sarfaraz's captaincy, Pakistan achieved significant milestones, including winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 and securing 11 consecutive T20I series victories.

Gul was also asked to choose between two left-arm pacers, Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Gul, who played alongside Amir during his career, selected Amir as his preferred choice among the two.

However, last month in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Gul expressed his surprise at Amir's decision and emphasized the importance of self-reflection and personal responsibility when faced with challenges in one's performance.

"I was surprised when he [Amir] took retirement from international cricket. It's not uncommon for players to face challenges when their performance falls short. However, it's important to remember that you can't always pinpoint a specific coach or factor as the sole reason for being dropped. Instead, it's better to hold yourself accountable and take responsibility," Gul said.

"When you place the blame on yourself, it becomes an opportunity for growth. You strive to improve even more, motivated by the challenge of performing better alongside coaches and teammates who are excelling and expecting more from you. Embracing these challenges ultimately enhances your performance," he added.The former pacer also highlighted that even if Amir decides to reverse his retirement decision, there are other skilled fast bowlers vying for a place in the team.

"Honestly, if you talk about Hassan Ali or Mohammad Hasnain, when they are not able to secure their place in the team, even if Amir decides to come out of retirement, whom would you bench for him?" he questioned.