Mohsin Naqvi Honoured Sarfaraz Ahmed with Shield After Legendary Captain Retires

LAHORE: Mohsin Naqvi honoured Sarfaraz Ahmed after the former Pakistan captain formally stepped away from international cricket. The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board presented Sarfaraz with a commemorative shield in recognition of his long service to the national side.

Sarfaraz, who recently announced his retirement from the international game, currently remains involved with the national setup as a member of Pakistan’s men’s selection committee. During a meeting at the PCB headquarters in Lahore, Naqvi acknowledged the wicketkeeper-batter’s contribution to Pakistan cricket and wished him success in the next phase of his career.

"You have fulfilled the honour of representing Pakistan in cricket and adorned our game with countless successes," Naqvi said.

"Pakistan cricket will always be indebted to your contributions and will continue to benefit from your experience and abilities," he added.

Leadership and ICC success

Sarfaraz’s most memorable achievements came during his captaincy tenure. He led Pakistan in 100 international matches and oversaw a period in which the team reached the No.1 ranking in T20 internationals.

Under his leadership, Pakistan also set a record by winning 11 consecutive T20I series and recorded several clean sweeps in bilateral contests against teams including the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia.

The defining moment of his captaincy came in 2017 when Pakistan defeated India national cricket team by 180 runs in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 at The Oval. The victory secured Pakistan’s first Champions Trophy title under Sarfaraz’s leadership.

Before that triumph, he had also captained Pakistan to victory in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2006.

In recognition of his achievements, Sarfaraz Ahmed received the Pride of Performance in 2018. He also remains the only Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s Cricket Ground.