Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed announces international retirement

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket. The cricketer confirmed the decision via a statement on Sunday, March 15. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) forwarded the announcement via a press release, where Sarfaraz expressed his gratitude to have represented the country at the highest level.

The legendary cricketer has been famous for captaining Pakistan to the ICC Champions Trophy title in 2017, where they had beaten arch-rivals India in the final to lift the prestigious silverware for the first time. Additionally, Sarfaraz captained the Men in Green in over 100 international matches, and also helped them dominate the ICC T20I team rankings during his tenure. He considers this as a special moment of his career.

“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," Sarfaraz said in a statement as per PCB.

“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, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and others grow into match-winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest achievements," he added.

Sarfaraz's international career took off in 2007, and the wicketkeeper-batter continued to serve the nation till 2023 when he played his last during a Test match against Australia at the Optus Stadium, Perth. However, he believes that he can continue serving the game in other ways even as he hangs his boot as a player.

“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.”

Sarfaraz is the only wicketkeeper from Pakistan to have scored a century at the iconic Lord's cricket ground in London, which came in 2016 during their tour of England. His contributions to Pakistan will never be forgotten by the true fans of the Pakistan cricket team.