Sack Sarfaraz as skipper: Arthur; CAC cleared to pick India coach
Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has recommended sacking of Sarfaraz Ahmed as captain of the team.
According to a report in thenews.com.pk, Arthur has told the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that fast bowler Shadab Khan should replace Sarfaraz as captaininthelimited-oversformatwhilebabarazam should lead the side in the Test format.
Arthur, in a review meeting held on Aug.2 with the PCB cricket commitee, has also sought his extension as head coach for two more years. Besides, he also proposed appointing a Pakistani national as his assistant coach. Ever since Pakistan’s ouster from the World Cup, many former cricketers have called for change in leadership for the Men in Green.
Ex-pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar believes that Haris Sohail should lead Pakistan in ODIS and T20IS whereas Babar Azam should be handed over the captaincy in Test cricket. Akhtar had earlier lashed out at Sarfaraz following Pakistan’s defeat to India in the round-robin stage of the World Cup and had termed the 32-year-old as a “brainless captain”.
Meanwhiletheindiansupremecourt-appointed Commiteeofadministrators(coa)onmondaydecided that the three-member Cricket Advisory Commitee (CAC) comprising of Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy are clear of any conflict and free to pick the next India head coach.
Speaking ater the meeting, COA chief Vinod Rai said that the commitee looked into the declarations given by the three and they have been cleared to pick the coach.
“We have seen, it is fine. The meetings with the shortlistedcandidateswillhappeninmid-augustand theappointmentwillfollowaterthat.cac’sdecision with regards to appointment will be final,” he said.
Kapil,anshumanandshanthahadbeenformally appointed the new CAC by the COA in the last meeting and had been asked by CEO Rahul Johri to give declarations regarding any conflict.
With regards to the appraisal of the BCCI employees, Rai refused to make any comment.
In another development, 26 state associations have complied with the new BCCI Constitution and have appointed electoral officers. Rai said he is confident that the number will read at least 30 by the time state elections are held.
Elsewhere, India paceman Navdeep Saini has been handed one demerit point for bad behaviour inhisdebuttwenty20internationalagainstthewest Indiesinflorida,thegame’sworldbodysaidmonday.
Saini starred in India’s T20 win on Saturday by taking three wickets, but the International Cricket Council disciplined the bowler for the animated send-off he gave Nicholas Pooran, his maiden international wicket.
“Sainiwasfoundtohavebreachedarticle2.5ofthe ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to using actions or gestures which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a bater upon dismissal,” the ICC said in a statement. “He has also been handed one demerit point.”
The player, who was described as a “rarity” by skipper Virat Kohli ater his figures of 3-17, admited the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Jeff Crowe. When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period they are converted into suspension points and a player is banned. Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIS or two T20IS, whatever comes first for the player.