Legendary wicketkeeper Moin Khan on Thursday urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to give an extended tenure to current national team captain Sarfraz Ahmed in order to pre-empt potential dressing-room conflicts.
The history of Pakistan cricket is littered with internal strife between rival cliques — the highlight of which was the infamous Waqar Younis-led mutiny against then captain Wasim Akram during the 1990s.
Such conflicts, however, have diminished during the last decade, partly to make way for bigger vice such as spot-fixing but also due to the calming influence of Misbahul Haq.
It, however, reared its head again during the recent tour of New Zealand when fast-bowler Hasan Ali, when criticised for some wayward bowling by Sarfraz, stared back at the skipper in an act of apparent dissent.
During the same tour there were also reports of some senior players not getting along with Sarfraz as well as coach Mickey Arthur.
Moin Khan, the head coach of Quetta Gladiators, discussed the issue on Thursday, asking the PCB to help command Sarfraz more respect in the dressing room by extending his captaincy until at least the 2019 World Cup.
"Pakistan cricket needs a long-term captain," he reiterated a point he has stressed before. "With long-term stability the team does not fall prey to such problems.
"The board needs to extends his captaincy for at least two more years."
Moin also explained the logic behind his recommendation for extension, saying: "When the boys know that this is their captain for the long haul, such problems don't occur."