(AFP Photo)
Senior Pakistan cricketer Sarfaraz Ahmed expressed his approval of Saud Shakeel’s appointment as vice-captain of the Test team. He commended the Pakistan Cricket Board for their initiative to nurture the young talent, highlighting that this move is a positive step towards preparing Shakeel for future leadership roles.
The Pakistan National Cricket Team is gearing up to host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series. This series will be their first action since the T20 World Cup 2024 and their first Test series since January. The opening match will take place in Rawalpindi starting August 21, followed by the second Test at Karachi’s National Stadium from August 30. Both matches will be part of the ICC World Test Championship.
Recently, Pakistan announced their squad for the series, making some tough decisions by dropping key players and including new faces to focus on the future of the Test team. In a significant change, Shaheen Afridi was removed as vice-captain, and Saud Shakeel was appointed to the role. Shakeel, known for his consistent performances in the longest format, is seen as a future leader for the team.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, who is also part of the 17-member squad, congratulated Shakeel on his new role. He praised the PCB’s decision, noting Shakeel’s previous achievements as a junior-level captain and expressing confidence in his future contributions.
“First of all, congratulations to Saud. To be vice-captain of the national team is a huge honour. It’s a commendable initiative by the cricket board to groom such a junior player who has been leading at lower levels. Saud has been captaining since the U-19 level and has led Sindh to the T20 championship title,” Sarfaraz Ahmed said.
Saud Shakeel made his Test debut in 2022 against England and has since been a valuable player for the team. In the 10 Test matches he has played, Shakeel has amassed 967 runs at an impressive average of 60.44, including two centuries.
It’s a positive initiative that domestic performers and Pakistan Shaheens are getting opportunities – Sarfaraz Ahmed
Sarfaraz Ahmed also highlighted the PCB’s initiative to include domestic players in the team as a positive move, recognizing the contributions of performers from domestic cricket. He elaborated on this, stating that
“It’s a positive initiative that domestic performers and Pakistan Shaheens are getting opportunities. Some players have already made their place, and we hope that more will get their chance in the future. It’s a good sign that domestic performers are being valued and becoming part of Pakistan’s [senior] team,” said Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Imam-Ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan have been dropped from the Pakistan squad. In their place, the team management has introduced several new players, including Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, and Mohammad Huraira.
