Pakistan cricket community backs Sarfraz's appointment

Pakistan's cricket community today backed the decision by the PCB to appoint wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed as the captain of the national T20 team.
Former captain, Rashid Latif told PTI he would like the board to also appoint Sarfraz as captain of the one-day squad.
"Pakistan has faced problems in the limited over formats and there is a need to have a fresh captain and mindset in both formats. I would have preferred to see Sarfraz named captain for ODIs and T20," he said.
Latif pointed out that Pakistan was due to play only one or two T20 internationals in 2016.

"It looks more like me to be a damage control decision following the team's disastrous showing in T20 matches in recent months," he said.
Former captain Salim Malik said Sarfraz was a good choice.

"Much will depend on how much respect he can command from the other players. What will help him is that he is a performer and fighter," Malik told PTI.
He also felt that Sarfraz should be groomed to also take over the captaincy in the other two formats in the future.
Sarfraz has replaced flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi who tweeted a congratulatory message to the keeper and described him as a 'fighter'.

Former Test opener, Mohsin Khan who has remained chief selector and head coach said that Sarfraz was a good choice for the captaincy.
"He is young, brave and a professional. But the board will have to give him lot of support and authority to move things forward. No captain can be successful without the backing of the board," Khan said.
Pakistan's former Test pacer Aaqib Javed said that Sarfraz had lot of cricket ahead of him and he was a good choice as he has also prior experience to leading national teams.