Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed: “I will not leave Quetta until they release me”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman, has made it clear that he has no plans to leave the Quetta Gladiators.
The 36-year-old captains the team in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), but they have not enjoyed a lot of success in the past few seasons.
The Gladiators won the PSL in 2019 but have failed to make it back to the final since then.
Sarfaraz noted that he owes a lot to Gladiators owner Nadeem Omar and confirmed that the only way he will leave is if the franchise releases him.
“I am associated with Quetta for the last eight years but my relationship with them is too old. I think since 2003 or 2004, I am with them. I guess I was just 17 when I first played for Nadeem Bhai’s team Omar Associates,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“I played for the Pakistan club and Nadeem Bhai saw and supported me during my growth as a cricketer. He is just like a father figure to me. I will not leave Quetta until they release me.”
Sarfaraz recently played in Pakistan’s three-match Test series against Australia, which they lost 3-0, and scored a total of seven runs in the one game he featured in.
Following their tour of Australia, Pakistan took on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series and ended up losing 4-1.
He is now expected to captain the Gladiators in the 2024 PSL, which starts on February 17.
Quetta Gladiators Squad for PSL 9: Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain), Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Jason Roy, Wanindu Hasaranga (partially available), Bismillah Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Hasnain, Will Smeed, Sherfane Rutherford, Mohammad Amir, Saud Shakeel, Sajjad Ali Jnr, Usman Qadir, Omair Bin Yousuf, Adil Naz, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Akeal Hosein, Sohail Khan, Laurie Evans