Pakistan Cricket Team in T20 World Cup 2026. Image Credits: AFP
In a major development for Pakistan, Sarfaraz Ahmed has announced his retirement from international cricket. The former Pakistan captain confirmed the decision on Sunday, March 15, bringing an end to a long and memorable career. After representing his country for many years, the experienced wicketkeeper-batter has finally decided to hang up his boots.
Notably, Sarfaraz’s retirement marks the conclusion of a distinguished journey that lasted nearly two decades. During this time, he became one of Pakistan’s most dependable players and a respected leader of the national team.
Sarfaraz Ahmed's illustrious career
Over the course of his international career, Sarfaraz Ahmed played 54 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 61 T20Is for Pakistan. Across these formats, he scored 6,164 runs, which included six centuries and 35 half-centuries.
Moreover, as a wicketkeeper, he also performed brilliantly behind the stumps. He completed 315 catches and 56 stumpings.
While announcing his retirement, Sarfaraz expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent Pakistan. In a press release, he said,
“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, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali 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,” he concluded.
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Sarfaraz Ahmed’s career as Pakistan Captain
In addition to his individual achievements, Sarfaraz also had a successful career as Pakistan’s captain. He led the national team in 100 international matches, including 50 ODIs, 37 T20Is, and 13 Tests. Under his leadership, Pakistan reached No. 1 in ICC T20I team rankings.
Furthermore, his captaincy era was marked by remarkable consistency in T20. Notably, Pakistan achieved a world-record streak of 11 consecutive T20I series victories under Sarfaraz’s leadership.
Meanwhile, the Men in Green also recorded six clean sweeps during this period, defeating teams like West Indies, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, and Scotland in different series between 2016 and 2018.
Sarfaraz Ahmed led Pakistan to historic Champions Trophy victory
One of the most memorable moments of Sarfaraz’s career came in 2017, when he led Pakistan to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy. With this win, Sarfaraz became the first Pakistan captain to win the Champions Trophy.
Additionally, he also holds a unique record as the only captain to win ICC titles at both junior and senior levels, as he previously led Pakistan to victory in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2006.
It is important to mention that Sarfaraz Ahmed made his international debut in 2007 in an ODI match against India. His final international appearance came in 2023, when he played a Test match against Australia in Perth.
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