The fallout from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup flop continues to reverberate, with radical squad changes already evident in the Bangladesh ODIs—sans Babar, Fakhar, and Naseem. Attention now shifts to Test cricket, where Sarfaraz Ahmed is tipped to become head coach after impressing with the juniors.
Telecom Asia Sport sources reveal PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s direct outreach to Sarfaraz, securing his commitment to work alongside Shan Masood. Their bond could prove vital in elevating Pakistan from the World Test Championship basement ahead of summer tours to West Indies and England.
But Shahid Afridi, the talismanic all-rounder, begs to differ. In a pointed media interaction, he advocated for Younis Khan: ‘Boasting 10,000+ Test runs and mastery in long-form batting, Younis is the ideal choice for our Test team.’
Vacant since Azhar Mahmood’s early contract termination last December, the role demands a steady hand. Sarfaraz’s credentials shine—54 Tests and a Champions Trophy win under his belt—but Afridi prioritizes Younis’s run-scoring expertise. This public rift amplifies the urgency for PCB to appoint a coach who can unify and uplift a struggling red-ball unit navigating a packed international calendar.