Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed has announced his retirement from international cricket. The former captain, who led Pakistan to glory in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, appeared in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs and 61 T20Is, scoring 6,164 runs, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries. The 38-year-old celebrated success behind the stumps as well, finishing with 315 catches and 56 stumpings in international cricket.
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Sarfaraz has captained Pakistan in 100 internationals across formats, including 50 ODIs, 37 T20Is and 13 Tests, and led the side to No. 1 in the ICC T20I rankings. Having last represented Pakistan in December 2023 during a Test against Australia, he currently serves as the Pakistan U-19 coach, a role he took up in November last year.
‘A DREAM COME TRUE’
Sarfaraz described representing Pakistan as the greatest honor of his life, reflecting on the milestones from leading the U-19 team to the World Cup in 2006 to lifting the Champions Trophy in 2017. He said captaining Pakistan was a dream come true and expressed pride in helping shape future match-winners during his tenure as captain.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to represent Pakistan. From leading the U19 team to the world title in 2006 to lifting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, every moment in Pakistan colors has been special. I am grateful to my teammates, coaches, family and fans for their unwavering support throughout my career,” Sarfaraz said.
“Capturing Pakistan in all formats has been a dream come true. I have always strived to play fearless cricket and build a united team. Seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and others grow into match winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest achievements,” added Sarfaraz.
SARFARAZ SHINES AS THE CAPTAIN
Sarfaraz made history by becoming the first Pakistan captain to win the ICC Champions Trophy. He is also the only Pakistan captain so far to win ICC titles at both junior and senior level, having previously led the country to victory in the 2006 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka, where Pakistan defeated India by 38 runs in the final.
On an individual basis, Sarfaraz holds Pakistan’s record for most Test match catches by a wicketkeeper when he took 10 catches against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2019. He also remains the only Pakistani wicket-keeper batsman to score an ODI hundred at Lord’s, achieving the feat against England in 2016.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
15 March 2026 16:02 IST
