Azhar Ali quits as Pakistan's ODI captain, T20 captain Sarfaraz replaces him

Azhar Ali on Thursday quit as Pakistan's ODI captain. Azhar Ali informed the PCB that he is ready to step down as captain of Pakistan’s ODI team following the 4-1 defeat in Australia. Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who is the T20I captain, has replaced Azhar in one-day internationals too.

Pakistan is due to face West Indies in a three-match ODI series in April. The ODIs will be played on April 7, 9 and 11, respectively. Besides, Pakistan will also play two T20s and three Tests.

Under Azhar’s leadership, Pakistan’s slipped to a record-low ninth in the ODI rankings. They rose one place since, to at least be in the running for direct qualification to the 2019 World Cup, but they only scraped into this year’s Champions Trophy.

Pakistan have won only five out of ten bilateral series under Azhar, two of them against Zimbabwe, and one each against Ireland, Sri Lanka and West Indies. In all, Pakistan won 12 and lost 18 games.