Lahore : Former Test captain and ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2006 and ICC Champions Trophy 2017 winning captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a distinguished career spanning around two decades.

Karachi-born wicketkeeper-batter, who made his ODI debut in 2007 before making his Test and T20I debuts in 2010, went on to represent Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs and 61 T20Is.He scored 6,164 runs across formats, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, he grabbed 315 catches and completed 56 stumpings during his international career.

Sarfaraz captained Pakistan in 100 international matches across formats (50 ODIs, 37 T20Is, 13 Tests) and led the side to the No.1 ranking in T20I cricket. During his captaincy, Pakistan achieved a world-record streak of 11 consecutive T20I series victories and recorded six clean sweeps, which include against West Indies (2016 and 2018), Sri Lanka (2017), Australia (2018), New Zealand (2018) and Scotland (2018).

Sarfaraz’ leadership era also saw the emergence of several future stars, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, whom he backed at the start of their international careers.

Sarfaraz Ahmed led Pakistan to historic triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy, beating India by 180 runs in the final at the Oval in England. With that victory, Sarfaraz became the first Pakistan captain to win the Champions Trophy and the only captain till date to win ICC titles at both junior and senior levels, having earlier led Pakistan to win in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2006 in Sri Lanka.

In recognition of his services and the Champions Trophy triumph, Sarfaraz Ahmed was awarded the Pride of Performance in 2018, becoming the youngest Pakistan captain to receive the honour.

Talking about his individual records, Sarfaraz has the Pakistan record of 10 catches in a Test match, which he took against South Africa in Johannesburg 2019. He is till date only Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s which he scored against England in 2016.

Sarfaraz who played his first international match (ODI) in 2007 made his last international appearance in an international match (Test) against Australia in Perth in 2023.

Sarfaraz Ahmed:

“It has been the greatest honour of my life to represent Pakistan. From leading the U19 team to a world title in 2006 to lifting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, every moment in Pakistan colours has been special. I am grateful to my teammates, coaches, family and the fans for their unwavering support throughout my career.

“Captaining Pakistan across all formats was a dream come true. I always tried to play fearless cricket and build a united team. Seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali,Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and others grow into match-winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest achievements.

“I would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for the trust they placed in me over the years. Pakistan cricket has always been very close to my heart and I will continue to support the game in every possible way.”

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KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators owner Nadeem Omar has announced Pakistan’s Champions Trophy winning captain Sarfaraz Ahmad as Team Director of the franchise.

Sarfaraz led Gladiators to their only Pakistan Super League (PSL) title in 2019 and has been one of the key performers for the franchise ever since the start of the league.

“Today I would like to announce Sarfaraz as Team Director of Quetta Gladiators,” Nadeem Said during the signing ceremony of Stile as official sponsors of Gladiators.

“Sarfaraz led QG really well as a captain and I am hopeful he will do the same as Director too. The combination of Moin Khan as Head Coach and Sarfaraz as Team Director would do wonders for us.”

Quetta Gladiators co-owner Hasan Omar stated that induction of Sarfaraz in team management marks a significant step in franchise history.

“The induction of Sarfaraz clearly shows that we are looking to induct young blood in our management as well. There was no better choice to bring in for the role as Sarfaraz is admired and loved by everyone associated with our franchise whether it’s us or the fans.”

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Lahore, 13 February 2022:

Quetta Gladiators delivered a second successive 200-plus chase as they defeated Islamabad United by five wickets in a last over thriller at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore in the 18^th fixture of the HBL Pakistan Super League 7 on Saturday night. Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (player of the match) took his side home with an unbeaten 50-run contribution.

Set an imposing 200-run target, Gladiators got off to a blazing start as Jason Roy and Ahsan Ali provided an 88-run start with Roy falling on the last ball of the eighth over of the chase. Roy was dropped at 25 by Wasim Jnr, the right-hander didn’t take a backward step and continued the onslaught in his sensational 54 off 27 balls (10 fours, one six) before he was bowled by Shadab.

Ahsan followed in the next over with Dawson pinning him lbw for 30 off 23 balls (three fours, one six).

James Vince (29 off 22) kept Gladiators in the hunt against the mounting required rate as Shadab, the leading wicket-taker of the ongoing season, produced another outstanding spell.

Shadab had the last laugh as he dismissed Vince in the same over (14^th) after conceding a six and four. Shadab also accounted for Iftikhar Ahmed to take his season’s wicket tally to 17.

Umar Akmal who made his first appearance for the season stroked a stunning 23 off eight balls (three sixes) to initiate the Gladiators comeback. Umar added 52 off 20 balls with Sarfaraz for the match winning fifth-wicket partnership.

The duo turned the game on its head by taking 17 runs from the 18^th over bowled by Hasan Ali when Gladiators needed 44 off the last 18 balls. They then took 19 off the penultimate over bowled by Wasim Jnr who dismissed Umar in the same over.

Sarfaraz finished the game for his side with two balls to spare as he scored back-to-back boundaries off Hasan ending with an incredible unbeaten 50 off 32 balls (three fours, two sixes).

Gladiators have now won three out of their six matches just like United who also have six points from as many matches. United though occupy the third spot ahead of Gladiators fourth on the basis of a superior net run-rate.

Other performers

United who were put into bat had an innings of two halves. After an explosive start courtesy Alex Hales’ 62 off 38 balls (four fours, four sixes), United had to endure a middle-order collapse. Hales who played some typically aggressive shots added 48 for the first-wicket with Rahmanullah Gurbaz (19) and 52 for the second-wicket with captain Shadab Khan (12).

From 100 for one in the 11^th over United crashed to 109 for six in the 13^th as Gladiators’ veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi took two wickets in one over which also included Hales’ run out.

Afridi then ran out Azam Khan (0) with a direct hit from mid-wicket as his inspirational burst brought the Gaddafi Stadium crowd to its feet.

However, Gladiators’ joy was short-lived as United all-rounder Faheem Ashraf produced a scintillating 55-run innings (28 balls, five fours, four sixes) adding 78 for the seventh-wicket with Liam Dawson (13) to bring his side back in the hunt.

After Faheem and Dawson perished on successive balls of the final over bowled by James Faulkner, Mohammad Wasim Jnr hit two massive sixes off the final two balls of the innings to take United to the highest total of the Lahore-leg so far as the 2016 and 2018 champions finished their 20 overs at 199 for eight.

Afridi with two for 27 was the pick of the Gladiators bowlers who in an otherwise shoddy bowling performance conceded 20 extras including as many as 16 wides. 

Player of the match Sarfaraz Ahmed: “We lost back-to-back wickets and had some dot balls yet we knew that if we stay at the wicket we will win. We were provided a great start by Jason Roy and Ahsan Ali and James Vince also made a valuable contribution. Umar Akmal changed the game with his blazing innings. We took a chance by handing Shahid Afridi the new ball as we knew that their batters try and attack from the start and that would give us a chance.”

Scores in brief:

Islamabad United 199 for 8, 20 overs (Alex Hales 62, Faheem Ashraf 55; Shahid Afridi 2-27, James Faulkner 2-47)

Quetta Gladiators 203 for 5, 19.4 overs (Jason Roy 54, Sarfaraz Ahmed 50 not out, Ahsan Ali 30; Shadab Khan 3-25)

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Captains of Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Wahab Riaz, held virtual media conferences today.

The audio and video files of their interactions are available here.

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LAHORE: A sixteen member squad for Pakistan’s tour of England and Ireland was announced on Sunday.

Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq announced the squad members at a press conference.

Nine batsmen have been included in the squad to counter the difficult playing position in England.

Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Sami Aslam have been included in the squad as opening batsmen.

Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Saad Ali, Usman Salahuddin have been added as middle order batsmen.

Faheem Ashraf finds his place as an all-rounder in the squad while Shadab Khan has been included as a spinner.

Fawad Alam has once again failed to find a place in the squad

The selection comes after players took part in a five-day fitness camp in Gaddafi stadium, overseen by coach Mickey Arthur, along with Inzamam and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi.

The squad is expected to depart at the end of this month.

Pakistan will begin their tour with a four-day warm-up match against county side Kent before taking on Ireland in a one-off test match on May 11: the first-ever played by the Irish.

Pakistan will then return to England for a two-test series on May 24 and June 1, followed by two twenty20 internationals with Scotland on June 12 and 13 respectively.

The Pakistan squad for tour of England and Ireland:

Sarfaraz Ahmed, Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Usman Salahuddin, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Amir, Muhammad Abbas, Saad Ali, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf and Rahat Ali.

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