All-rounder Shoaib Malik was asked to lead Pakistan after regular skipper Sarfraz Ahmed was banned for four matches by the governing body of international cricket for making racial remarks against the South African all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo. As soon as Shoaib Malik took over from Sarfraz, reports of their alleged fallout started doing the rounds. The announcement by the PCB to appoint captain of the World Cup team after the PSL further ignited the debate about Sarfraz’s captaincy future. Sarfraz, however, is not worried and has categorically denied any sort of feud with Shoaib.
“There is no truth to the claim people who play under Shoaib bhai don’t want to play under me. All the boys are very good and support each other. I don’t think there’s anything about that,” he said.
“I’m hopeful and expectant of a comeback. I came back because I had a four-match ban, and there was just one more match after that. So travelling with the team all that while and not playing, what with me having been away from home for five months, was very hectic. If I had come back with the team and got just three days here before going for the PSL [Pakistan Super League], that would have been very hectic. So getting the rest instead was much better.” he added.
He is confident of retaining his place as skipper of the team.