Daily Times

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain and legendary batsman Javed Miandad believes that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should admit its mistake of appointing right-hand batsman Azhar Ali as the captain of the flailing ODI side. “It is time for the PCB to admit they made a mistake in appointing Azhar as the ODI captain and appoint someone else for the series against the West Indies next month,” Miandad said Wednesday. “It made no sense to appoint Azhar last year when he was not in the ODI team since 2013,” he added. Alex Hales’s stunning 171 provided the platform for England to post the highest ever one-day international total of 444 for three as they beat Pakistan by 169 runs at Trent Bridge on Tuesday night. Victory in this day/night clash gave England an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series after Pakistan were dismissed for 275 with 44 balls to spare.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes that wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed is the obvious choice to replace Azhar as the ODI captain. While talking to a local news channel, Wasim said it is the right time to hand over the captaincy to the 29-year-old. “I think it is the right time to give responsibility to Sarfraz and make him ODI captain. He is a performer under pressure and he can bring about a change.” Another former captain and famous commentator Ramiz Raja is of the view that he is concerned about Azhar, who he believes can suffer at the Test level after coming under enormous pressure following three back to back defeats against England in the ongoing series. “I am just concerned that eventually all this pressure and criticism might affect his Test cricket performances.” Pakistan former Test opener and head coach Mohsin Khan said that he believes it’s a big test for new coach Mickey Arthur to turn the team’s fortune in the limited overs cricket. “Where are we going in this format?” asked Mohsin. “I believe it is going to be a big challenge now for coach Mickey Arthur to replicate his success of the Test matches into limited over cricket.”