Umar Akmal: “If he had kept some authority similar to Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan, he would have still been the captain, and there would not have been these quarrels on the captaincy”
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Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal believes Sarfaraz Ahmed was removed as captain since he didn’t have the same authority as Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan.
He noted that if Sarfaraz had the ability to assert himself, he would have continued captaining the men in green.
The 38-year-old captained Pakistan from 2016 to 2019, during which he helped the team win the 2017 Champions Trophy.
Despite achieving great things during his tenure as skipper, Sarfaraz was axed from the leadership role and subsequently saw his opportunities to play international cricket dwindle.
“If he had kept some authority similar to Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan, he would have still been the captain, and there would not have been these quarrels on the captaincy,” Akmal was quoted as saying by ARY News.
During the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), Sarfaraz didn’t play in the tournament, but served as the Quetta Gladiators’ team director.
Following the conclusion of PSL 10, Pakistan faced Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, which they won 3-0.
The men in green have now embarked on a tour of Bangladesh and will play three T20Is in Mirpur from July 20 to 24.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufiyan Muqeem
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