Test captaincy is challenging but things will get easier with time: Sarfraz

Days after being assigned the job of leading Pakistan cricket team in all the three formats, Sarfraz Ahmed has insisted that although Test captaincy is quite challenging, things will get better with time.

At a reception held at the Prime Minister's residence in honour of Pakistan's Champions Trophy victory, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan announced that he had offered the role of Test captaincy to Sarfraz, who had accepted it.

Sarfraz, who was already leading the Pakistan in T20I and ODI formats, was rewarded with the country's Test captaincy after he led the national team to an elusive Champions Trophy title in England.

"Test captaincy is a challenge but things will get easier with time," the Dawn quoted Sarfraz as saying.

While speaking at a gathering held in his honour at Karachi Press Club on Thursday, Sarfraz also said that if the international teams could play in England despite all the issues then they should also visit Pakistan to play cricket

"Pakistan cricket has lost a lot owing to an absence of international cricket, and it is time for international teams to recognise us. We have not played cricket at home for the past nine years," he said.

Sarfraz further insisted that despite home-like conditions in UAE, playing at home is a completely different experience.

Meanwhile, the wicketkeeper-batsman also admitted that it would be difficult to fill in the void left by former skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and experienced batsman Younis Khan.

"It would be difficult to replace Misbah and Younis," Ahmed said while also expressing hope that batsmen like Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, and Asad Shafiq would step up for the team.

Sarfraz took over the T20I captaincy from all-rounder Shahid Afridi after the 2016 World T20 and became ODI captain when Azhar Ali resigned in February this year.

It would be the first time in five years that Pakistan would be led by a single man across formats.

Sarfraz's Test captaincy debut will be against Sri Lanka in the UAE, which will comprise three Tests, five ODIs and two T20Is starting October 19.