Pakistan’s cricketer Sarfaraz Ahmed arrives to attend a coaching session on the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on August 20, 2024, on the eve of their first Take a look at cricket match towards Bangladesh. — AFP
Former Take a look at captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has introduced his retirement from worldwide cricket, bringing an finish to a distinguished profession spanning round 20 years, in line with a press launch issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Karachi-born wicketkeeper-batter, who made his ODI debut in 2007 earlier than making his Take a look at and T20I debuts in 2010, went on to signify Pakistan in 54 Exams, 117 ODIs and 61 T20Is.
He scored 6,164 runs throughout codecs, together with six centuries and 35 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, he grabbed 315 catches and accomplished 56 stumpings throughout his worldwide profession.
Sarfaraz captained Pakistan in 100 worldwide matches throughout codecs, together with 50 ODIs, 37 T20Is, 13 Exams, and led the facet to the No 1 rating in T20I cricket.
Throughout his captaincy, Pakistan achieved a world-record streak of 11 consecutive T20I collection victories and recorded six clear sweeps, which embody towards West Indies (2016 and 2018), Sri Lanka (2017), Australia (2018), New Zealand (2018) and Scotland (2018).
Sarfaraz’s management period additionally noticed the emergence of a number of future stars, together with Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, whom he backed initially of their worldwide careers.
Sarfaraz led Pakistan to historic triumph within the ICC Champions Trophy, beating India by 180 runs within the last on the Oval in England.
With that victory, he turned the primary Pakistan captain to win the Champions Trophy and the one captain until date to win ICC titles at each junior and senior ranges, having earlier led Pakistan to win within the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2006 in Sri Lanka.
In recognition of his companies and the Champions Trophy triumph, Sarfaraz was awarded the Satisfaction of Efficiency in 2018, turning into the youngest Pakistan captain to obtain the honour.
Speaking about his particular person information, Sarfaraz has the Pakistan report of 10 catches in a Take a look at match, which he took towards South Africa in Johannesburg in 2019. He’s up to now the one Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to attain an ODI century at Lord’s, which he scored towards England in 2016.
Sarfaraz, who performed his first worldwide match (ODI) in 2007, made his final worldwide look in a global match (Take a look at) towards Australia in Perth in 2023.
“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,” the former skipper said in a statement.
“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, Fakhar, Hasan, Shaheen, Shadab and others grow into match-winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest achievements,” he added.
He also thanked 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,” he concluded.
