KARACHI: Former Captain of the national cricket team, Sarfaraz Ahmed, has clarified his recent statement that led to speculations about his retirement from international cricket.
While talking to media, Sarfaraz Ahmed Clarifying his statement about retirement, he said that in the press conference, he had mentioned that there was nothing more to say about his career. He emphasized that he is still playing cricket and will continue to play wherever cricket is available. He never stated that he would play for Pakistan in one format but not in another.
In a special conversation with media, the former captain of the national team and mentor of the Dolphins in the Champions Cup, Sarfaraz said that as a mentor, he works with the squad players. He shared that the past three to four months as a mentor have been a good experience, and he has also worked with women players.
He explained that a coach works on the players’ technique, but mentoring also includes coaching. He conducts one-on-one sessions with players to improve their game and shares his experience of playing in pressure situations.
Sarfaraz Ahmed stated that the goal as a mentor is to provide good guidance to the players, especially in T20, where one has to be proactive all the time and quickly understand the situation and conditions.
He further added that while he is a mentor, he doesn’t believe in giving constant messages to the players. He said that he started his leadership journey in school cricket, then captained at the club, under-19, zonal, department, and Shaheen level before leading the national team. He believes that if a player has captained at different levels, captaincy becomes easier. If someone has been leading from the grassroots level, the results will be good.
Sarfaraz also mentioned that in the Champions One Day Cup, he encountered players who got the chance to play for the national team. He appreciated the selection committee for giving players consistent opportunities. He added that the preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup has already begun through the Champions Cup.
