Sarfraz Ahmed named Pakistan’s Test captain

Pakistan Tuesday rewarded Sarfraz Ahmed with the country’s Test captaincy, a fortnight after he led the national team to an elusive Champions Trophy title in England. Underdogs Pakistan trounced India by a record 180-run margin in the final in London on June 18 to lift the Champions Trophy, to the shock and ecstasy of the cricket-mad country. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan named Sarfraz Test captain at a ceremony honouring the winning team hosted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday. READ: Fans cheer ‘Long live Sarfraz’ as Pakistan captain returns home

“I take this opportunity to announce Ahmed as our Test captain in addition to one-day and Twenty20 captain,” Shaharyar said. The 30-year-old will lead Pakistan in the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, likely to be held on the neutral venue of the United Arab Emirates in October. Ahmed has already led Pakistan in nine one-day internationals since last year, winning seven and losing two. He has also led in eight Twenty20s, winning seven and losing just one. The Test captaincy has been vacant since Misbah-ul-Haq retired after winning a three-match Test series 2-1 in the West Indies in May this year.

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Ahmed said leading Pakistan in all three formats is a great honour.

“I am honoured to be appointed Test captain,” he said during the ceremony. “I will do my best to lift the team in all three formats and will not rest on Champions Trophy laurels.”

Sharif rewarded every member of the Trophy winning team with a prize of 10 million rupees ($100,000) while members of the team management received five million ($50,000).