Tag: Sarfaraz Ahmed

LAHORE: Wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed commented on the ongoing captaincy saga of the national men’s cricket team, stating all the contenders have the ability to lead.

Former captain Sarfaraz appeared on a local news channel’s show and was asked who among Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi would be the best to lead the Pakistan team.

“Look, it’s the Pakistan Cricket Board’s authority, they will appoint whoever they think is better.

“Currently, Shaheen Shah Afridi is your white-ball captain and Shan Masood is the captain of the Test team. But, I think whoever becomes captain should be given adequate opportunity [to lead the team].

“So, whatever the board decides, it would be a wise decision for the team.”

Sarfaraz Ahmed also shared his thoughts on Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir’s decision to come out of international retirement.

“Look, they have been really close friends of mine and very good teammates. I always told Amir that you should play cricket for Pakistan,” said Sarfaraz.

“I think it’s better late than never and they came at the right time as Pakistan needs them. So, I hope that their return would surely benefit the Pakistan team,” he added.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed then revealed that he advised Mohammad Amir against taking retirement and opined that it would be beneficial both for the country and the pacer if he continued to play international cricket.

“Look, I advised Amir at that time too that we should not leave our field,” shared Sarfaraz.

“Obviously, he must have his set of reservations due to which he might have thought he should not play anymore.

“But, wherever he played cricket, he played it really well. So, I think he wasted these two to three years [of his career].

“Had he played for Pakistan, it would have been fruitful both for him and Pakistan but again better late than never.

“It is hoped that the Pakistan team will benefit from Aamir’s presence.”

READ: Usman Khan picks better captain between Rizwan, Sarfaraz

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed welcomed Mohammad Amir’s retirement reversal but believes that the left-arm pacer wasted two to three years of his cricket.

Wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz appeared on a local news channel’s show and was asked to share his thoughts on Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir’s decision to come out of international retirement.

“Look, they have been really close friends of mine and very good teammates. I always told Amir that you should play cricket for Pakistan,” said Sarfaraz.

“I think it’s better late than never and they came at the right time as Pakistan needs them. So, I hope that their return would surely benefit the Pakistan team,” he added.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed then revealed that he advised Mohammad Amir against taking retirement and opined that it would be beneficial both for the country and the pacer if he continued to play international cricket.

“Look, I advised Amir at that time too that we should not leave our field,” shared Sarfaraz.

“Obviously, he must have his set of reservations due to which he might have thought he should not play anymore.

“But, wherever he played cricket, he played it really well. So, I think he wasted these two to three years [of his career].

“Had he played for Pakistan, it would have been fruitful both for him and Pakistan but again better late than never.

“It is hoped that the Pakistan team will benefit from Aamir’s presence.”

Sarfaraz Ahmed then went on to quash the rumours of him moving to the United Kingdom (UK) and stated that he has no such plans as of yet.

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Multan Sultans top-order batter Usman Khan has recently opened up about playing under the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Usman Khan represented Quetta Gladiators under Sarfaraz Ahmed during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six in 2021 before making a move to Multan Sultans, under the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan, in 2023.

During an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, Khan was asked to rate the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan and Sarfaraz Ahmed, considering his experience of playing under both captains.

The 28-year-old batter pointed out that both captains are similar tactically however the major difference between them is the way they express their emotions during crunch stages.

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“In some ways, they’re similar, in terms of their tactics and how they want to win games. Saifi bhai [Sarfaraz Ahmed] is a little more emotional and at times tenses up,” said Usman Khan.

“Rizwan bhai never blames a player or scolds them if they’ve gone for runs. No one gets told they’ve cost the team a game,” he added.

“Strategically they’re not dissimilar, but the way they react emotionally and psychologically to on-field events can be quite different,” he concluded.

Usman Khan is having a spectacular season for Multan Sultans in the ongoing PSL 9, sitting in the third position in the top run-scorers chart.

He has scored 373 runs in six innings, including two centuries and one half-century at a brilliant strike rate of 168.01.

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RAWALPINDI: 2019 champions Quetta Gladiators have rested their former captain and wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed for their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 clash against Peshawar Zalmi here on Friday.

The Gladiators, currently third in the standings, made three changes to their Playing XI as they take on fierce rivals Zalmi in an all-important duel at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.

They replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sherfane Rutherford and Usman Tariq with Laurie Evans, Omair Bin Yousuf and Sohail Khan respectively.

The changes marked the first instance that their former captain Sarfaraz would miss the Gladiators’ match without being injured.

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He had missed only two matches for Quetta Gladiators, both last season, due to an injury to his finger, since the inception of the league in 2016.

Notably, Sarfaraz Ahmed had a dismal PSL 9 campaign as he managed only 22 runs in six matches at a dismal average of 5.5 and a best score of 11 which came against defending champions Lahore Qalandars.

His poor form with the bat spans back to the previous edition of the marquee league as he accumulated 162 runs in eight innings at 27 with the best score of 41.

His last half-century in the league came in the 2022 edition when he scored an unbeaten 50 to propel Quetta Gladiators to a thrilling victory over Islamabad United.

However, Sarfaraz Ahmed boasts a decent record with the bat in the PSL. He is the eighth all-time leading run-scorer with 1525 runs in 73 innings at an average of 29.32 and a strike rate of 122.68.

He also led Quetta Gladiators to their solitary PSL title in 2019.

READ: Aaqib Javed opens up about Lahore Qalandars’ struggles in PSL 9

Shane Watson, the head coach of Quetta Gladiators, praised the leadership qualities of former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed despite losing captaincy ahead of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9.

Sarfaraz Ahmed led Quetta Gladiators for eight consecutive seasons before he was replaced by Rilee Rossouw for the ongoing season.

However, Shane Watson stated that Sarfaraz is a leader on the field and is supportive of the new captain.

“He’s such a great leader and he leads on the field whether he’s got the C placed beside his name or not. He’s been exceptional,” said Watson while speaking to a local sports channel.

“The support that he gives him (Rilee) has been exceptional. So, it’s a real credit to Sarfraz the ways he’s taken it on and he continues to lead.

“He’s just his natural leader anyway. So even if he doesn’t ever have a C beside his name, he certainly knows how to be able to add the value he needs to.

The former Australian all-rounder also heaped high praise on Saud Shakeel, who has been impressive with his batting at the top order, scoring 164 runs in five games at a strike rate of 150.45.

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“Saud is a highly skilled young man, his balance with Jason Roy and his ability to play spin and fast bowling make him a perfect fit for the opening slot.

Meanwhile, Watson appreciated the “exceptional” batting prodigy Khawaja Nafay and termed him a future prospect for Pakistan.

“Khawaja Nafay has exceptional power and bat speed. His skill and power make him a promising prospect for Pakistan cricket.

Wason also shared his experience of coaching Quetta Gladiators and expressed contentment with the way the team has played in the tournament so far.

“It’s an absolute privilege to be the head coach of a team like Quetta Gladiators. I’ve been very happy with the way the guys have played.

“For me, the most important thing about being the head coach was setting up an environment where the players feel that they can be at their very best and they certainly have throughout the whole tournament so far.

“Everyone has put their hand up when the teams needed them.”

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators on Sunday, provided an update regarding their wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed’s injury.

According to the details, Sarfaraz was hit on his head during his side’s PSL 9 clash against home side Multan Sultans.

The incident occurred in the final over of the Sultans’ innings when Mohammad Wasim Jr took a well-judged catch of Reeza Hendricks at deep midwicket.

The fielder celebrated by throwing the ball up in the air and it hit Sarfaraz Ahmed on its way back. Notably, the wicketkeeper did not have his helmet on then and consequently had to leave the field.

Mohammad Sajjad Ali kept the wickets for the remainder of the innings and was later named as Sarfaraz’s concussion replacement.

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Considering the severity of the injury, Sarfaraz Ahmed was taken to a local hospital here and underwent CT Scan.

Meanwhile, according to the Gladiators, Sarfaraz’s scans came out satisfactory and the former captain will accompany his teammates, who will travel to Karachi for the second Leg of the ongoing PSL 9.

🚨 Injury update 🚨@SarfarazA_54 is feeling better now as he is on the road to recovery.#PurpleForce, we appreciate your love & best wishes for our Gladiator. #HBLPSL9 pic.twitter.com/apiSaAkQe0

— Quetta Gladiators (@TeamQuetta) February 25, 2024

2019 champions Quetta Gladiators are placed second in the PSL 9 standings with six points in four matches.

Quetta Gladiators had a dream start to their PSL 9 campaign, winning three matches on the trot but Multan Sultans ended their winning streak on Sunday to remain at the summit of the points table.

The former champions next face hosts Karachi Kings on Thursday, February 29 at the iconic National Bank Cricket Stadium.

READ: Lahore Qalandars’ Haris Rauf ruled out of PSL 9

Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed commented on the potency of left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir to take back his retirement from international cricket.

Sarfaraz acknowledged the value Amir brings to T20 cricket in a recent interview with a local news outlet and expressed confidence in the latter’s abilities.

“The inclusion of Mohammad Amir has made a big difference. He has been bowling really well and has a lot of experience of playing T20 cricket,” Sarfaraz said.

“I have always told Amir that he can still play for Pakistan since he has a lot to offer. He can be useful for Pakistan but it depends on Amir how he sees his future with the national team,” he further added.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed then went on to comment on Quetta Gladiators’ dream start to the PSL 9 campaign but refrained from making an optimistic claim.

“It is too early to say anything but we have a good team combination and, if we continue playing like this, the team will get good results,” Sarfaraz said.

He further broke the silence on Rilee Rossouw replacing him as Quetta Gladiators’ captain and asserted that he is relaxed after relinquishing the role.

“I’m relaxed and enjoying the game. Rilee Rossouw is leading the side really well,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that the change in leadership has thus far, paid dividends for the Gladiators as the former champions, who failed to make it to the Playoffs since 2019, opened their PSL 9 campaign with two victories on the trot.

READ: Rassie van der Dussen propels Qalandars to 166/5 against Sultans

Former West Indies batting icon and mentor of Quetta Gladiators Sir Vivian Richards expressed high hopes for wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed to ‘prove his worth’ in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9.

Richards, while interacting with the media after joining the Gladiators’ camp ahead of their campaign opener against Peshawar Zalmi, commented on a shift in the 2019 champions’ leadership and asserted that it would ease the pressure from Sarfaraz.

“I’m a big fan of Sarfaraz Ahmed. I’m sure the appointment of a new captain will take the pressure off Sarfaraz. I have asked him to prove his worth with the bat in PSL 9,” stated Richards.

The legend of the game also acknowledged the team’s recent struggles and termed the change a need of the hour.

“Quetta has not been able to do well over the past few years which is why the changes could be good for the side. I think we have formed a good team for PSL 9,” he said.

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Sir Vivian Richards also commented on the “classy” inclusion of Mohammad Amir to Quetta Gladiators and showered praise on the experienced left-arm pacer.

“I have always praised Mohammad Amir and I’m happy to see him play for Quetta Gladiators. Amir will be a classy inclusion for Quetta,” Richards said.

The Gladiators’ mentor, however, refrained from drawing a comparison between Amir and Naseem Shah’s pace and instead emphasized on experience the former possesses.

“I don’t know if Amir will have pace similar to Naseem Shah but we are happy that an experienced player is part of the side,” he further added.

It is worth mentioning here that Quetta Gladiators will play under a new captain this season as Rilee Rossouw took the reigns from Sarfaraz Ahmed, who led the side for eight seasons.

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Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed has relinquished Quetta Gladiators’ captaincy ahead of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9.

According to the details, Sarfaraz decided against leading the former champions for the straight ninth year after consultation with newly-appointed head coach Shane Watson.

South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw emerged as the strong candidate to take up the role with Saud Shakeel serving as his deputy.

However, no official announcement has been made thus far by either Sarfaraz Ahmed or Quetta Gladiators.

Sarfaraz Ahmed has been a key part of the franchise since the inaugural edition of the PSL and has been leading the side since then.

The franchise played three finals under his leadership and also lifted their solitary title in 2019.

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However, the franchise saw a total change of fortune since winning the title as they failed to reach the playoffs in the last four editions.

In a bid to force a change, Quetta Gladiators made notable changes in their coaching staff and management as they brought in legendary all-rounder Shane Watson as the head coach and express pacer Shaun Tait as their bowling coach.

Franchise owner Nadeem Omer appeared in a local podcast in December where he revealed that he is “double-minded” on Sarfaraz Ahmed’s future as the captain.

However, earlier this week, Omer revealed that Sarfaraz Ahmed himself wanted to take a break from captaincy to focus more on his performance.

“Sarfaraz wants to take a break from captaincy with new head coach Shane Watson set to decide who will lead the side after consulting with the team management,” Omer said.

Quetta Gladiators squad for PSL 9:

Sherfane Rutherford, Mohammad Amir, Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Jason Roy, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Sajjad Ali Junior, Usman Qadir, Omair Bin Yousuf, Will Smeed, Khawaja Nafay, Adil Naz, Akeal Hosain, and Sohail Khan.

READ: Six captains unveil HBL PSL 9 Trophy in Lahore

MELBOURNE: Test captain Shan Masood opened up on wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed’s exclusion from Pakistan’s 12-member squad for the second Test against Australia.

Sarfaraz, who had a forgetful outing in the Perth Test, was replaced by Mohammad Rizwan on Monday as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled a 12-member squad for the upcoming second Test.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s newly-appointed Test captain Shan Masood, who categorically coined Sarfaraz Ahmed as his first-choice wicketkeeper ahead of the tour, stated that it would be wrong to say that he was “dropped” and instead termed it as a “little bit of break to recuperate and come back”.

“You saw that with the selection of Khurram Shahzad and Aamer Jamal even though a lot of people felt it was quite risky putting two debutants out there. I think they handled themselves well and we have to give them credit because their first outing in Australia was quite decent.

“The reason to play Sarfaraz was pretty much the same. People go back to stats and Rizwan averages very well in SENA. Firstly, there’s no competition between the two. They’re equally important to the team. Any competition they have is healthy competition.

“We know what Rizwan has done but we gave Sarfaraz the benefit because he averaged 56.50 on his last tour here in 2016. Yes, that’s been quite a while but he’s also played red ball consistently in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy in the last few years.

“Rizwan just came from the World Cup, a lot of white ball cricket. And he also had a gap in red-ball cricket since Sarfaraz took over from him for the New Zealand series.

“Sarfaraz had an outstanding performance there and Rizwan hadn’t played a lot of red-ball cricket. So, there was a method to it. He’s been there, he played red-ball cricket.

“Karachi had a very good season where he was the tournament’s MVP, and that allowed us to get a player like Rizwan into shape. If I had it my way, I’d ideally like both to play but that’s not possible.

“Now we think Rizwan is ready and we can give Saifi that little bit of break to recuperate and come back.”

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Shan Masood also commented on his first defeat as Pakistan’s Test captain when his side suffered a 360-run hammering in the first Test.

“One Test is never a fair assessment,” he said. “You need time. You need a bit more time. You’ve already got a squad that’s been playing Test cricket for a while.

“You have to look at the domestic structure and the players available for red-ball cricket. A lot of things you need before you can sort of force that way of playing.

“You need players to buy in. We want to give players ample opportunity to buy into the way we want to play. There are some things that we’ve said from the outside that we want to play a more attractive brand of Test cricket.

“We did that in Sri Lanka. We got some results as well. The challenge now is to do it against the best teams in world cricket.”

Pakistan squad for second Test

Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi (vc), Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamir Jamal, Sajid Khan.

READ: Rizwan replaces Sarfaraz in Pakistan’s 12-member squad for second Test