Pakistan’s red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed is unlikely to be sacked ahead of the Test tours against the West Indies and England in July-September, contrary to previous reports.
Sarfaraz to remain head coach
Sarfaraz, who was appointed as Pakistan’s Test head coach in April this year, oversaw Pakistan’s 2-0 whitewash against Bangladesh last month. The clean sweep was the second consecutive time Pakistan failed to win a Test game against the opposition, having done so in 2024 as well.
Pakistan’s former captain Younis Khan was in contention to replace Sarfaraz, but now the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is believed to have opted for continuity. The same, however, isn’t certain for their Test captain Shan Masood.
While a decision has yet to be made, Masood’s role as the side’s longest-format captain is under threat, with Salman Ali Agha as the forerunner to replace him.
Several reports also claim that Masood’s strong record in English conditions—especially having led Yorkshire in the County Championship—could earn him an extension for the next two series.
Can Pakistan survive in the WTC?
Pakistan are currently in ninth place in the World Test Championship (WTC) table, having won only one of their four games so far. They were also docked points for a slow over-rate during the first Test against Bangladesh, which reduced their tally to just four.
The next tours against the West Indies and England are crucial to their survival in the WTC. However, the chances of doing well on these away tours are slim, largely because Pakistan have not won a single away Test since 2023, when they whitewashed Sri Lanka 2-0.
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