Ahmed Shehzad Raises Concerns Over Sarfaraz Ahmed’s Appointment as Test Head Coach

Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has voiced strong reservations regarding Sarfaraz Ahmed’s elevation to the role of head coach for the national Test team, emphasizing deeper issues within the country’s cricket structure.

Sharing his perspective on social media platform X, Shehzad argued that Pakistan cricket is not short of talent but is instead hindered by decisions that fail to prioritize merit.

He questioned the speed of Sarfaraz Ahmed’s progression through various roles, pointing out that the former skipper transitioned from franchise cricket to domestic competitions, then into youth mentorship, followed by involvement in the selection committee, and ultimately secured the top coaching position—despite having limited experience in coaching.

Pakistan cricket isn’t short on talent; it’s short on transparency and merit.

Sarfaraz Ahmed moved from franchise cricket into the Pakistan Cup, then into junior cricket as a mentor, then into a selection role, and now he has become the head coach in the ultimate format of the…

— Ahmad Shahzad 🇵🇰 (@iamAhmadshahzad) April 18, 2026

Shehzad also raised concerns about overlapping responsibilities within the system. He highlighted that Sarfaraz’s close associate, Asad Shafiq, currently serves in multiple capacities, including as a selector for the women’s team, head of the Karachi Cricket Academy, and batting coach, while still holding a place on the selection panel. According to Shehzad, such dual roles create doubts about transparency and professionalism within the setup.

Discussing team selection, Shehzad identified several inconsistencies that, in his view, reflect flawed decision-making.

He noted that Saad Baig delivered an outstanding domestic season by scoring over 1,000 runs but has yet to receive recognition, while Rohail Nazir continues to be overlooked despite being prepared for higher-level cricket. In contrast, players like Ghazi Ghori have been given opportunities.

He further questioned leadership standards, pointing to Shan Masood’s continued role as captain at 32 and asking whether performance benchmarks are being applied fairly.

Additionally, Shehzad criticized the exclusion of in-form players such as Kamran Ghulam and Asif Afridi, highlighting that Afridi was dropped even after delivering impressive performances.

He also expressed concern over the absence of Abrar Ahmed from the squad and the limited chances provided to Mohammad Huraira, who has an impressive domestic record featuring multiple double and triple centuries.

Concluding his remarks, Shehzad stressed that meritocracy remains the cornerstone of any successful system, asserting that its absence continues to hold back the progress of Pakistan cricket.