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Sarfaraz Ahmed should focus on domestic cricket, says Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan advised Sarfaraz Ahmed to focus on domestic cricket to get back into the national team.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed was removed as captain and dropped from the team in all three formats by the PCB. (Source: Reuters)

After Sarfaraz Ahmed was removed as captain and dropped from the team in all three formats by the Pakisan Cricket Board last month, Pakistan Prime Minister and former cricketer Imran Khan said that the wicketkeeper-batsman should focus on domestic cricket to make a comeback to the national side.

If Pakistan’s premature exit from the World Cup was not reason enough, Sarfaraz’s own declining form and the whitewash by Sri Lanka were too hard to ignore for the Pakistan selectors. Ahmed was also dropped from the Pakistan squad that travelled to Australia for three T20Is and two Tests.

Explained: Why Sarfaraz Ahmed has been sacked as Pakistan’s Test and T20 captain

Patron-in-chief of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Khan said that Pakistan’s cricket will only improve once their domestic cricket gets strong.

“I don’t think the performance and form of a player should be judged by T20 cricket but through Test and One-day cricket. He can come back to the national team, he should focus on domestic cricket,” Khan said.

Khan also backed the appointment of Misbah-ul-Haq as head coach and chief selector.

“It is a constructive move to appoint Misbah as he is an honest and unbiased personality who has loads of experience behind him,” he said.

READ | Sarfaraz Ahmed sacrificed for Pakistan, did not deserve this: Former players slam PCB

“I think Misbah will turn out to be a good choice and Pakistan will improve and do well in Test and ODI cricket under him. He has this talent in him that he can groom the players and also improve their performance,” he added.

Hoping that the new domestic first-class format with only six provincial teams will lead to a better cricket system in the country, Khan said, “If our domestic cricket improves, then Pakistan cricket will also move forward.”

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