Pakistan's Champions Trophy-winning captain Sarfraz Ahmed is in line to become the head coach of the national team, according to reports. The 37-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman led Pakistan to a thrilling three-wicket victory over India in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final at The Oval in London. Sources close to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed that Sarfraz is one of the top contenders for the job, which has been lying vacant since Mickey Arthur's departure after the 2019 World Cup. The PCB is understood to have shortlisted a few candidates, including Sarfraz, who impressed the board with his leadership skills and tactical acumen during the Champions Trophy triumph. Sarfraz, who retired from international cricket in December 2020, has been involved in coaching since then, working as a batting consultant for the PCB's high-performance centre. His experience and success as captain of the Pakistan team make him an attractive candidate to take over as head coach. The PCB is expected to announce its decision soon, with the new coach set to begin his tenure ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. The board has been looking for a coach who can lead Pakistan to success in major tournaments and Sarfraz's impressive record as captain could work in his favour. Sarfaz led Pakistan to several notable victories during his time as captain, including the Champions Trophy triumph over India. His tactical acumen and ability to motivate his players were key factors behind Pakistan's success during that period. If appointed, he will become one of the youngest head coaches in international cricket history.#Australia #London #T20_World_Cup #ICC_Champions_Trophy #Sarfraz_Ahmed #Pakistan_Cricket_Board #Mickey_Arthur #The_Oval
India Champions Trophy jibe after Pakistan crash out: 'You fossils felt...' Former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik couldn't resist taking a dig at former England batsman Graham Atherton and ex-Pakistan captain Nasser Hussain after Pakistan's early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy. Pakistan were knocked out of the tournament in the group stages, failing to win a single match. In response, Karthik took to social media to roast Atherton and Hussain for their pre-tournament jibe at India. The duo had said that the Indian team was "overhyped" and would struggle against top-class teams like Pakistan. However, India went on to reach the semi-finals of the tournament, while Pakistan crashed out in the group stages. Karthik couldn't help but rub it in their faces, posting a tweet that read: "You fossils felt so much pressure and anxiety when you were playing... now you're just irrelevant relics trying to cling to fame!" The tweet was accompanied by a laughing emoji, indicating that Karthik was poking fun at Atherton and Hussain. The post quickly went viral on social media, with many fans backing Karthik's sassy response to the duo's pre-tournament jibe. Karthik's tweet also sparked a debate on Twitter, with some fans defending the Indian cricketer for standing up to his critics, while others felt that he was being too harsh. However, one thing is certain - Dinesh Karthik has once again shown that he's not afraid to speak his mind and take on his opponents in the world of cricket.#India #Pakistan #Dinesh_Karthik #Graham_Atherton #Nasser_Hussain #ICC_Champions_Trophy
