Sarfaraz to lead Pakistan in 2019 World Cup: PCB

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani, responding to a question about Sarfraz Ahmed’s captaincy, said that he will lead Pakistan’s cricket team during the 2019 World Cup.

Talking to media, the PCB Chairman said: “There is no controversy regarding the captaincy of Sarfraz Ahmed and every time it is created by the media itself.

The chairman further said: “He is captain of Pakistan. He has no restriction and no terms. He is a great choice and this controversy around Sarfraz’s captaincy is created by the press.”

When asked if Sarfraz will remain captain till World Cup 2019, the chairman responded, “Yes.”

Ehsan Mani also confirmed that the final match of the upcoming fourth edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2019 will be held in Karachi.

Last year’s final was also played at National Stadium Karachi, where Islamabad United defeated Peshawar Zalmi to win the title for the second time.

Quinton de Kock

in a T20 warm-up clash against a Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane on Wednesday. The South Africans are in Australia for a one-off T20I in Queensland on Saturday having beaten their hosts 2-1 in a three-match ODI series.

Batting first after stand-in captain Quinton de Kock won the toss, the Proteas struck 201/5 from their 20 overs with some encouraging knocks along the way.

Aiden Markram top scored with 45 (26) while Heinrich Klaasen (41 off 23), Reeza Hendricks (39 off 38) and Farhaan Behardien (27* off 14) also made valuable contributions. The Australian XI was never really in the run chase and they fell well short in the end. There was a promising return to the international stage for allrounder Chris Morris, who got through 4 overs to leave with figures of 2/35..

201/5 (Markram 45, Klaasen 41, Hendricks 39, Behardien 27*): 160/7 (Ross 40, Bryant 36, Morris 2/35); South Africa won by 41 runs.

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