PAKISTAN captain Sarfraz Ahmed will stay on in the role until this summer’s World Cup in England – despite serving a ban for racism.
Sarfraz left his side’s tour of South Africa early after cricket chiefs suspended him for four games.

The 31-year-old wicketkeeper admitted breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-racism code.
But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Tuesday that Sarfraz was “an integral part” of its World Cup plans.
“We all know he has had some tough times as a professional cricketer in the past few weeks,” said PCB chairman Ehsan Mani.

“(But) I was always clear in my mind that Sarfraz would be the captain.”
Sarfraz, who was caught on a stump microphone using the Urdu word “kaale”, meaning “black”, said: “The reality is the last few weeks have been extremely difficult for me as a person and professional.

“But I am delighted the PCB has reassured its confidence and faith in me.”
The ban was imposed by the ICC last month following a one-day international in Durban in which Sarfraz made a racist remark to South Africa all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo.
He later apologised and claimed his words were “not directed towards anyone in particular”, though he admitted breaching the anti-racism code.

The PCB was critical of the punishment and said it would seek to reform the anti-racism code at future ICC forums.

However, Sarfraz returned to Pakistan, with all-rounder Shoaib Malik stepping in as captain for the rest of the South Africa tour – even though Sarfraz would have been available for the final Twenty20 match of the tour, which took place yesterday. BBC Sport)