Cricket-Azhar steps down as Pakistan ODI captain, Sarfraz to lead

Feb 9 (Reuters) - Azhar Ali has stepped down as Pakistan's one-day captain following the team's debacle in Australia with wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed elevated to the post, the Cricinfo website quoted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman as saying. The former world champions rank a lowly eighth in one-dayers and speculation was mounting about the future of Azhar's captaincy following the team's comprehensive 4-1 defeat in Australia last month. "Azhar agreed to relinquish his captaincy as he believed that his batting is being effected due to extra burden of leadership," PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told ESPNcricinfo. "I respect his decision and he will continue to play as batsman in one day team, but now we all decided that Sarfraz will be handed the ODI captaincy." (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Ralph Boulton)