Tag: Sarfaraz Ahmed

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has handed former national captain Sarfaraz Ahmed a key role as manager and mentor of the Pakistan U19 team for the upcoming ACC U19 Asia Cup 2025, scheduled in Dubai from 12 to 21 December.

The announcement came alongside the release of Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the 50-over tournament, with last year’s participant Farhan Yousaf named captain.

Pakistan have been drawn in Group A alongside India, Qualifier 1, and Qualifier 3, while Group B features Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Qualifier 2, and Sri Lanka.

The tournament will act as vital preparation for the ICC U19 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia from 15 January to 6 February 2026.

Pakistan will begin their campaign on 12 December against Qualifier 3 at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

The high-profile clash against India will follow on 14 December at the ICC Academy Ground, with their final group match against Qualifier 1 scheduled for 16 December.

The semi-finals are set for 19 December, with the final to be held on 21 December.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed brings extensive experience to the role, having enjoyed a prolific international career.

In 54 Tests, he scored 3,031 runs, including four centuries and 21 fifties. He also amassed 2,315 runs in 117 ODIs, with two centuries and 11 fifties, and contributed 818 runs in 61 T20Is, including three fifties.

As captain, Sarfaraz led Pakistan to the 2017 Champions Trophy triumph, defeating India by 180 runs in the final.

He maintained a 70% win rate in Tests as captain, achieved a 62.5% win rate in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, and recorded a 78.37% win rate in T20Is.

The 38-year-old last represented Pakistan in red-ball cricket during a Test against Australia in Perth in 2023.

Pakistan’s support staff for the U19 Asia Cup includes Shahid Anwar as head coach and batting coach, Rao Iftikhar as bowling coach, Mansoor Amjad as fielding coach, Abrar Ahmed as trainer, Ubaidullah as physiotherapist, and Ali Hamza as analyst.

Pakistan U19 Squad: Farhan Yousaf (captain), Usman Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hassan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor (wk), Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Huzaifa, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Shayan (wk), Niqab Shafiq and Sameer Minhas

Non-travelling reserve players: Abdul Qadir, Hasnain Dar, Mohammad Hassan Khan, Ibtisam Azhar and Umar Zaib

Support staff: Sarfaraz Ahmed (manager/mentor), Shahid Anwar (head coach/batting coach), Rao Iftikhar (bowling coach), Mansoor Amjad (fielding coach), Abrar Ahmed (trainer), Ubaidullah (physio), Ali Hamza (analyst)

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LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been handed a key role in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), sources said on Sunday.

According to sources, the wicket-keeper has been assigned to oversee matters regarding the Pakistan Shaheens and the Pakistan Under-19 teams.

The role will involve looking after squads, including coordination with coaches, squad management, and arrangements for domestic and international tours. Additionally, Sarfaraz could also travel with the teams on their tours.

It is pertinent to note that this will be the second time the 38-year-old has been assigned a role in the PCB. Previously, he had served as the mentor of the Dolphins team in the Champions Cup, which was held last year.

Earlier, Sarfaraz Ahmed, as Team Director of Quetta Gladiators in the PSL 10, opened up on the challenges of transitioning to the coaching role.

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The wicket-keeping batter led the side for eight years and in a record 80 matches since the inception of the PSL in 2016, and played as a player in the previous edition of the league.

In an interview with PCB Digital, Sarfaraz Ahmed said: “It is an exciting role for me, and I am trying to learn as I have previously worked as a mentor in the two Champions Cup events for team Dolphins”.

Sarfaraz Ahmed added, “It’s not easy for a player to transition into a coaching role, especially after being involved as a player on the field, but over time you need to evolve your skillset and adapt to new responsibilities. I have been with Quetta since the start of the HBL PSL.”

Recalling Quetta Gladiators’ triumph in the 2019 edition, the former Pakistan captain called it a memorable moment after reaching finals and playoffs for three years.

For the unversed, Sarfaraz is a vastly experienced player, having represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 61 T20Is.

He also brought several accolades to Pakistan, as he led the national team to victories in the ICC U19 World Cup 2006 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

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Left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has dismissed talk of an international comeback, stating that it’s time for Pakistan cricket to move forward.

The 33-year-old explained that he has no intentions of making a comeback and his decision is final.

“For the past two or three days, I have been hearing that Mohammad Amir is making a comeback and taking back his retirement. No discussion has taken place with me about any comeback or withdrawing retirement, nor do I have any such plan. The decision I made regarding retirement is final,” Amir remarked

“My fans say that I should come back, but Pakistan cricket also needs to move forward,” he continued.

He also backed the Pakistan team for T20 World Cup glory after ending as runners-up in the Asia Cup 2025.

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“There are young players in the team. If the youngsters play consistently, in two or three years a strong team will be formed. I hope the team will be well-prepared for the World Cup. We played the Asia Cup final; now I hope we play the World Cup final and win as well,” he stated.

Mohammad Amir lavished praise on wicket-keeper Sarafaraz Ahmed and talked about his potential role as a chief selector.

“Even if he is not appointed Chief Selector, if he comes in as a selector, it will be a good decision. Sarfaraz Ahmed has played with the current players, which could be an advantage,” he said.

“Sarfaraz Ahmed is an honest and sincere person; Pakistan cricket can benefit from people like him. Cricketers should also be capable of managing affairs and should be good players. Many cricketers came before, but they left the team in turmoil,” he concluded.

For the unversed, Mohammad Amir had previously announced his retirement from international cricket back in 2020 at the age of 28, citing differences with the then-team management.

However, he, along with Imad Wasim, came out of international retirement in 2024 and declared availability for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Ultimately, Amir decided to step away from international cricket again in 2019.

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Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed expressed his views on Pakistan’s 75-run victory over Afghanistan in the tri-series final at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Afghanistan faltered in a 142-run chase and were bowled out for just 66 in 15.5 overs.

Afghanistan had a similar start to Pakistan as they lost their opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (5) in the opening over.

The next wicket came on the fourth ball of the fourth over as Sediqullah Atal (13) was caught by Faheem Ashraf. The wicket, however, sparked a massive collapse that Afghanistan could not recover from.

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With Mohammad Nawaz’s introduction into the attack in the last over of the powerplay, things got ominous for Afghanistan. He first removed Darwish Rasooli for nought and then Azmatullah Omarzai (0) to put Pakistan in a commanding position.

Furthermore, he sent Ibrahim Zadran (9) packing on the first ball of the next over to bag a hat-trick. As a result, Afghanistan were 32-5 in 7.1 overs.

Afghanistan continued to lose wickets with no major contribution from the middle order, which eventually handed Pakistan a comprehensive victory.

For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz remained the standout bowler, taking five wickets, whereas Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem picked up two wickets each.

Sarfaraz Ahmed praised team performance on his social media handle, lauding Salman Ali Agha’s captaincy and hailing Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf’s contributions.

“Congratulations, Team Pakistan, on winning the tri-nation series, well led by Agha, and excellent bowling by all the bowlers Nawaze you beauty Rana Je well played,” he wrote

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Former Pakistan cricket captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and the current vice-captain of the T20I team, Shadab Khan, shared heartfelt tributes honoring the career of hard-hitting batter Asif Ali.

Asif announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday, concluding a seven-year career in which he represented Pakistan in 79 white-ball matches.

Sarfaraz and Shadab expressed their admiration for Asif’s talent and praised his services to Pakistan cricket through social media posts.

Shadab Khan referred to the 33-year-old as more than a teammate, calling him a brother and wishing him all the best for the future.

“Happy retirement to one of the best teammates and a brother. Best wishes for the next chapter in your career, Asif bhai,” Shadab wrote.

In the meantime, Sarfaraz Ahmed commended him for his dedication and enthusiasm for the game.

“Congratulations aachi on a wonderful international career. You’ve worn the colors with pride and passion. Wishing you continued success in all that lies ahead @asif9741. All the best buddy,” Sarfaraz wrote.

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Asif Ali announced his decision on Monday night via social media, expressing pride in representing Pakistan at the international level.

“Today, I announce my retirement from international cricket,” Asif wrote.

“Alhamdulillah, wearing the Pakistan jersey has been the greatest honour of my life and serving my country on the cricket field has been my proudest chapter.

“To my fans, teammates and coaches, thank you for your love, belief and support through every high and low.

“To my family and friends, who stood with me in moments of joy and in the deepest of trials, including the loss of my beloved daughter during the World Cup, your strength carried me forward.”

Asif Ali played for Pakistan in 58 T20Is and 21 ODIs from 2018 to 2023. His last appearance for Pakistan was against Bangladesh in October 2023, during the Asian Games.

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KARACHI: Wicket-keeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed has praised the Pakistan squad selection for the upcoming Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025.

Addressing the media during a private event, Sarfaraz mentioned the younger players who are stepping up with their performances.

“This is a new team taking shape, with new players performing. Youngsters such as Hasan Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan, Hussain Talat, and Sufyan Moqim have been given opportunities,” said Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Regarding team selection, he stated that it’s a good team and is confident that this team will perform well in the forthcoming events.

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“A good team has been announced, and I hope this team can perform well in the Tri-Nation and the Asia Cup,” the wicket-keeper said.

“Fakhar Zaman has consistently been a match-winner and has performed very well for Pakistan. As I said before, this is a young team, and in the UAE, Pakistan’s record has always been excellent,” Sarfaraz Ahmed concluded.

For the unversed, the 17-member squad announced earlier today will partake in the tri-series, scheduled to run from August 29 to September 7.

The series will serve as a crucial tune-up for the Asia Cup 2025, also to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28 in the T20 format.

Pakistan squad for the UAE tri-series and Asia Cup

Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim

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KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has expressed confidence in the national team’s ability to perform well in the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Speaking at a private event, Sarfaraz said giving new players opportunities in the Pakistan team is a good sign.

He noted that Pakistan has played a significant number of cricket matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) conditions and expressed hope that the team will perform well in the Asia Cup.

Sarfaraz Ahmed also shared his thoughts ahead of the country’s 78th Independence Day.

“Pakistan earned respect in the ‘battle for truth’ and that no amount of gratitude would be enough for this honor,” he remarked. We must show the world that Pakistan has always stood for peace,” he added.

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Sarfaraz said the nation will celebrate August 14 with great enthusiasm while praising the Pakistan Army for making immense sacrifices to protect the country and paying tribute to the martyrs.

For the unversed, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) unveiled the much-anticipated schedule for the 2025 Asia Cup at the end of last month.

The marquee event will be played in the T20 format as a preparatory event for next year’s T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The eight-team tournament will take place from September 9 to 28 and features two groups of four teams each.

Group A comprises India, Pakistan, the UAE, and Oman, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.

Pakistan will open its campaign against Oman on September 12, followed by the marquee clash against India on September 14.

If both arch-rivals qualify for the Super Four stage, another face-off is slated for September 21. The final will take place on September 28.

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BIRMINGHAM: Former captain and wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed has been substituted in the Pakistan Champions squad for the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, scheduled to begin today.

The Pakistan Champions revealed their much-awaited complete squad just before their opening game against the England Champions, set to begin at the iconic Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

The squad, revealed on the franchise’s social media handles, underwent notable changes, with former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed being replaced by Kamran Akmal.

Among other notable changes, the middle-order batter Fawad Alam was added to the squad as a surprise pick.

Earlier this year, the Pakistan Champions had announced that Sarfaraz Ahmed would represent them in the second edition of the WCL.

 

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For the unversed, former captain Mohammad Hafeez will lead the side in his WCL debut season, taking over from Younis Khan, who is not part of the squad this time around. Another senior name missing from the lineup is Misbah-ul-Haq.

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Meanwhile, the core of the team, including Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, and Wahab Riaz, remains intact.

The WCL 2025 will be contested across four English venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), County Ground (Northampton), Grace Road (Leicester), and Headingley (Leeds).

Six teams, India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, will face off in a round-robin format, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

The upcoming edition marks the second installment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, where the Indian team, led by the legendary Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.

During the inaugural season, Younis Khan-led Pakistan were among the standout teams, producing dominant performances throughout the group stage.

Despite a spirited effort, Pakistan Champions fell just short in the final against arch-rivals India. After setting a target of 157, they couldn’t prevent India from chasing it down with five wickets and five balls to spare.

Pakistan Champions squad for WCL 2025

Mohammad Hafeez (c), Shoaib Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Amin, Sharjeel Khan, Kamran Akmal (WK), Shahid Afridi, Asif Ali, Aamer Yamin, Wahab Riaz, Rumman Raees, Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan, Fawad Alam

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Wicket-keeper batter and 2017 Champions Trophy-winning captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has joined Pakistan Champions for the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, scheduled to take place from July 18 to August 2, 2025.

The announcement of the veteran player was made via social media handles.

“He is back behind the stumps… and probably shouting “only one, only one!” already. Everyone’s favourite Sarfaraz Ahmed returns — and so does the energy we all love,” the franchise wrote in the caption with an animated picture.

Sarfaraz Ahmed led Pakistan to a memorable victory over arch-rivals India in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. The right-hander has represented Pakistan in 61 T20Is.

Under Sarfaraz’s captaincy, Pakistan clinched 11 consecutive T20I series wins, defeating West Indies, Australia, New Zealand, England, and Zimbabwe.

For the unversed, the WCL 2025 will be contested across four English venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), County Ground (Northampton), Grace Road (Leicester), and Headingley (Leeds).

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Six teams, India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, will face off in a round-robin format, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

The upcoming edition marks the second installment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, where the Indian team, led by the legendary Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.

During the inaugural season, Younis Khan-led Pakistan were among the standout teams, producing dominant performances throughout the group stage.

They opened their campaign with a clinical win over Australia before thrashing the West Indies.

One of the tournament’s most iconic moments came in their clash against India, where Pakistan racked up a mammoth 243/4 and then restricted their arch-rivals to 175/9.

Their only group-stage defeat came against South Africa, but the Men in Green bounced back strong, sealing a semi-final win against the West Indies by 20 runs to set up a high-stakes final against India.

Despite a spirited effort, Pakistan Champions fell just short in the final. After setting a target of 157, they couldn’t prevent India from chasing it down with five wickets and five balls to spare.

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Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed humorously credited his personal training session with Hasan Ali during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 as the reason behind the pacer’s impactful return to international cricket.

Hasan, who returned to Pakistan’s T20I squad after a one-year hiatus, registered his maiden five-wicket haul in the format, helping the home side secure a 37-run win over Bangladesh in the series opener at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Soon after the match, Sarfaraz took to Instagram and shared a picture of himself training with Hasan during PSL 10, adding a tongue-in-cheek caption.

“I made you train, and this [comeback] is the result of it, understand, Hasoo,” the former captain posted.

Sarfaraz, who led Hasan during ICC Champions Trophy 2017Quetta Gladiators’ PSL campaign, also praised the pacer’s dedication and resilience throughout his comeback.

“Great comeback Hasso Jani! Your dedication and hard work paid off. Well done, young man. Keep it up,” he wrote.

Sarfaraz Ahmed further congratulated the national team on a strong start to the series and lauded key performers including Shadab Khan, Mohammad Haris, and captain Salman Ali Agha.

“Congratulations Team Pakistan. Good start to the series by the grace of Almighty Allah. Hasan Ali making us proud once again. Shaddy, Agha, Haris — well played boys and good luck for the next two games,” he added.

Pakistan are currently leading the three-match series 1-0. The second T20I will be played at the same venue later today.

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