September 3, 2019: According to Pakistan's news channel, Geo News, Azhar Ali will replace Sarfraz Ahmed as test captain.
Azhar Ali To Replace Sarfraz Ahmad As Test Captain
Azhar Ali To Replace Sarfraz Ahmed As Test Captain
Picture Courtesy © Google

PCB Is Set To Appoint New Test Captain 

After consistent failure with the bat, PCB has decided to remove Sarfraz Ahmed as test captain. The chances of Azhar Ali to be handed the test captaincy are on the rise, but, there are no threats to Sarfraz Ahmed's captaincy in the shorter format of the game. 
The rumours were around that Imad Wasim might replace Sarfraz Ahmed as ODI captain. Sarfraz Ahmed's performance behind the stumps and with the bat has been poor since last year. Also, his captaincy came under criticism for some poor tactics and foolish decisions. During his leadership, Pakistan Cricket Team achieved number 1 rank in T20Is and also won ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in England but, apart from that, their performance in ODIs has not been satisfactory. Pakistan Cricket Team failed to qualify for playoffs in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. And that made PCB management to think about the other options. 
The board recently held discussions to change the captains of all three formats but, decided against it as the contender for this post, Imad Wasim continued to have fitness problems, and none of the others was as much experienced to be given this role.
As a result, PCB decided to remove Sarfraz Ahmed as test captain but, stuck with him in shorter formats of the game.

Azhar Ali's Test Career For Pakistan

Azhar Ali decided to hang his boots from white-ball cricket last year but, he continues to be the backbone of Pakistan Cricket Team in test cricket. He along with Asad Shafiq, is the most senior duo in Pakistan team's batting line-up after Misbah Ul Haq and Younis Khan's retirement.
He, at the moment, is the best choice to lead Pakistan in whites. 
Here is Azhar Ali's test career in number for Pakistan :
  • The dynamic batsman has represented Pakistan in 73 test
  • He has scored 5669 runs at an average of 43.27
  • Azhar has scored 31 fifties and 15 hundred in the longest format of the game
  • His highest score is 302* against Sri Lanka 

Pakistan's Next Test Assignment

Pakistan will take on Australia as their first Test Championship assignment later this year. Men in green will play two tests there followed by three T20Is.

Head Coach's Appointment And Final Decision On Captaincy

According to Geo News, Azhar Ali will replace Sarfraz Ahmed as test captain and the final decision on Sarfraz Ahmed's captaincy future in shorter formats will be taken after the appointment of new head coach.
Pakistan Cricket Board will announce the new head coach this Wednesday.