
ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan will replace Sarfaraz Ahmed as the Test head coach of the national men’s cricket team, sources told Geo News on Saturday.
Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan to their historic ICC Men’s Champions Trophy win in 2017, was appointed head coach in April this year and his first assignment was the two-match series against Bangladesh as part of the World Test Championship (WTC).
But his appointment failed to force a change in the fortunes of the national team, which went on to a 2-0 series whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh, its second in a row against the same opposition in the longest format.
Following the whitewash defeats against Bangladesh, there were reports that veteran left-arm opener Shaun Masood could be dropped as the captain and all-rounder Salman Ali Agha could replace him as the captain.
Meanwhile, according to insiders, both the captain and head coach of the Test team may be relieved of their respective responsibilities as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) plans to give key roles to two former national cricketers, Younis and Hafeez.
Apart from replacing Sarfaraz as Test head coach, Younis, who won Pakistan’s first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2009, is expected to be included in the national men’s cricket team’s selection panel.
Sources, however, said that Sarfaraz will continue to work with Pakistan Shaheens.
Whereas Hafiz, who has represented Pakistan in 55 Tests, 218 ODIs and 119 T20Is, is likely to become the Director of International Cricket. PCB suspended Usman Wahla in September Last year.
Notably, like Younis, Hafeez is all set to play a dual role as he too will be included in the Pakistan men’s selection squad, which currently includes Aqib Javed, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq and Sarfaraz.
Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai
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