Pakistan cricket is set to enter the Sarfaraz Ahmed era, again.
The former Pakistan wicket-keeper batter is not leaving any stone unturned to make sure he is well-prepared for the two-match Test series opener against Bangladesh, scheduled at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium from May 8.
While this is his first assignment with the senior team, Sarfaraz, who recently retired from international cricket and was famously known for leading them to Champions Trophy triumph in 2017, is not a complete stranger to coaching roles.
Sarfaraz guided Pakistan's U19 side to the Asia Cup title as mentor-manager while he served in the same role with Pakistan Shaheens for their series against England Lions in the UAE.
The series was cut short because of the West Asia crisis but Sarfaraz certainly left his mark that prompted Pakistan Cricket Board to hand him over the reigns in the Bangladesh series, replacing Azhar Mahmood who worked on an interim basis during the Test series against South Africa after the departure of Australia Jason Gilliespie.
Many inside the Pakistan cricket fraternity feel that though Sarfaraz was handed the responsibility for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, it is unlikely that he will be changed immediately as the board is not showing any indication towards that direction. Rather, it looks they are keen to back him in the coming days.
"He (Sarfaraz) had done some mentoring role in the Under-19 and Shaheens and so he is well aware what needs to be done in the dressing room. Now, for him the challenge is to make that mental shift that will help him to turn into a coach from a mentor because there is a slight difference as far as respective roles are concerned," a Pakistani source well aware with the recent development told Cricbuzz recently.
Sarfaraz seemed ready to evolve as a coach and worked extensively with his cricketers in the nets, whether it is fulfilling the role of a throwdown specialist or running down and having long chats with Shan Masood. He seemed to be everywhere and seemed to be relishing every bit of it during the training sessions at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium's academy ground.
Whether Pakistan's new head coach works for them or not is a matter of another discussion considering Misbah-ul-Haq, who also held the position of chief selector, failed to deliver during his three-year tenure that forced him to resign along with pace bowling coach Waqar Younis, as the team did not perform as per expectation.
It is certain that Sarfaraz and his new-look coaching setup's moves will be under scrutiny and the trio - Umar Gul (bowling coach) and Asad Shafiq (batting coach) along with the head coach - is trying hard to bring the confidence back in the dressing room and are being welcomed with both hands.
"I think if we look at the new setup, it's the people that we've played with," Pakistan captain Shan Masood told reporters, when asked about the new coaching setup.
"Saifi bhai has been our captain for a very long time. I played a lot of cricket with Asad Shafiq, he was one of Pakistan's best batsmen when I started playing test matches and through a longer part of my career. And then again, Umar Gul is someone I've played under in domestic cricket with and also played under his coaching. So we're very fortunate that we have people that we've played with, that we know very well.
"And even when they were players, they were our leaders, all three of them. And I think they know the group very well. And for us, it doesn't feel like something new; it feels like we're with people that we know and people that know the best side of us and how to get the best results out of us.
"Look, obviously change is never easy. But the best part is that the management and new coaching staff that have come in, like Saifi bhai, Asad bhai, and Umar Gul, are people we have already played under and alongside. We've played under Saifi bhai's captaincy. Asad bhai was the senior batter when you look at this batting group he played around 80 Tests for Pakistan," he said.
"I've played domestic cricket with Umar Gul in HBL and in Islamabad, played under his coaching, and also alongside him in the Pakistan team. So it doesn't really feel like a completely new setup has come in," he said.
"It feels more like people who know us very well, and whom we know very well too. They know how to deal with Shan, with Babar Azam, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, and even with the younger players coming through. Everyone has spent time with these people somewhere along the line, which I think is a very good thing and a very good decision for Pakistan cricket," he said.
"Because I've always believed that the connection between the coaching staff and the players matters a lot. You actually spend more time with each other than with your own families. And I think it has been a very good start. Even though the turnaround time after the PSL was short, the way they organised the camp, first the red-ball camp for players who weren't involved in the PSL, and then the practices and arrangements here it doesn't feel like we are making a fresh start. It feels like we were already connected with these people from before," he added.
Pakistani pace bowler Shaheen Afridi echoed the same sentiment while he added that it is easier to communicate with a local coach compared to a foreign coach in the dressing room.
"I feel it is easier to talk (with a local coach around) and you understand what the plan is in the team," said Shaheen.
"Saifi bhai is the head coach and I think we are all looking forward to it.
"He (Sarfaraz) played with us when he was a captain when we played our first games, so still those memories are in our mind and he knows all the players very well, and how to use them in all conditions actually," he said.
"So I think for Pakistan cricket I feel he is the best option right now," he added.
Whether Sarfaraz is the best option or not, and will it work for them or not can only be assessed in future. For now, it is certain that Sarfaraz has arrived with a mission to accomplish and knowing his character he will be the last one to surrender.
