Sarfaraz Ahmed 'refused' graceful exit

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed was asked to step down initially but he flatly refused; Mohammad Rizwan is likely to be the next stumper for Pakistan.

Sarfaraz Ahmed was asked to step down as skipper for a graceful exit.

 

Sacked Sarfaraz Ahmed had the chance to make a graceful exit as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had advised him to step down as captain in all three formats but the wicketkeeper-batsman turned down the suggestion.

According to sources, when Sarfaraz met PCB CEO Wasim Khan on Friday in Lahore, he was asked to step down after serving as skipper in all three formats since 2017.

READ| Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked as Pakistan’s Test and T20I captain

“Sarfaraz flatly refused to do this and told Wasim the board could sack him if they wanted but he would not step down himself,” the PCB source said.

The source added Sarfaraz will not be part of Pakistan’s T20 or Test squads for the Australia tour as head coach-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq has now decided to give a chance to wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan.

PCB chairman Ehsan Mani said Sarfaraz was removed due to his lack of confidence and poor performance. “The decision was a difficult one but taken in the best interest of Pakistan cricket,” Mani said.