A single intelligent decision of Sarfraz Ahmed as Captian which led Pakistan to victory in Champions Trophy

A single intelligent decision of Sarfraz Ahmed as Captian which led Pakistan to victory in Champions Trophy

In the realm of cricket, the focus is on Pakistan, the Pakistan cricket team, and Sri Lanka, with attention drawn to the thrilling ICC Champions Trophy. This competition has the cricket world buzzing with excitement as fans await the exciting matchups between these teams. Amidst this cricket fervor, a thought-provoking statement has emerged from former Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Amir regarding the contrasting leadership styles of Sarfaraz Ahmed and Babar Azam.

**Pakistani Cricket in Turmoil** The saga of Pakistan's cricket team unfolds under the leadership of the young and underfire batter Babar Azam. Pakistan faced a critical setback in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, as they suffered a historic ODI loss to Afghanistan at Chennai's Chepauk Stadium. With two wins and three losses from five matches, Pakistan finds themselves in fifth place on the points table, prompting a sense of urgency to revive their campaign.

To maintain any hopes of advancing to the semi-finals, they must triumph in the remaining fixtures against South Africa, Bangladesh, 2019 New Zealand, and defending champions England.

**Amir's Insight on Leadership** In the midst of intense scrutiny surrounding Babar Azam's leadership, Mohammad Amir reflected on the era of Sarfaraz Ahmed's captaincy. Sarfaraz Ahmed, currently leading Karachi Whites in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023 final, previously captained Pakistan to a significant victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. Amir, who was a part of the team during that period, shared an intriguing memory.

**Sarfaraz's Tactical Acumen** Amir recalled Sarfaraz Ahmed's proactive approach to leadership. During the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 fixture against Sri Lanka, Sarfaraz noticed a vital detail – the reverse swing of the ball at one end of Cardiff's Sophia Gardens stadium.

Recognizing the opportunity, he directed Amir to bowl from that end to disrupt the partnership between Niroshan Dickwella and Angelo Mathews. Amir executed the plan to perfection, securing the dismissals of both batsmen. Pakistan ultimately emerged victorious in that game, winning by three wickets.

In this narrative of contrasting leadership styles, Amir's words shed light on the dynamic world of cricket, where strategic acumen and decision-making play pivotal roles in shaping the outcome of matches.