New Delhi, March 15 (NationPress) - Sarfaraz Ahmed, the accomplished wicketkeeper-batter and captain who guided Pakistan to victory in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, has announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday, marking the end of a remarkable career that lasted nearly two decades.

At the age of 37, Ahmed played for Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 61 T20Is, accumulating a total of 6,164 runs across all formats, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries. As a wicketkeeper, he recorded 315 catches and 56 stumpings.

During his tenure, Sarfaraz captained Pakistan in 100 international matches across various formats. Under his leadership, the team achieved the pinnacle of T20I rankings and set a world record with 11 consecutive T20I series wins, which included six clean sweeps against formidable teams like West Indies, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, and Scotland.

His most significant achievement as captain was at The Oval in London, where Pakistan defeated India by 180 runs in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy. Prior to this, he led the national U19 team to the ICC Under-19 World Cup title in Sri Lanka in 2006, triumphing over India by 38 runs.

In recognition of his Champions Trophy victory, Sarfaraz received the Pride of Performance award in 2018, becoming the youngest captain from Pakistan to earn this prestigious honor. “It has been the utmost privilege to represent my country. From guiding the U19 team to a world championship in 2006 to lifting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, every moment spent in Pakistan's colors has been unforgettable.

“I am thankful to my teammates, coaches, family, and fans for their steadfast support throughout my journey. Captaining Pakistan in all formats was a dream realized. I consistently aimed to play fearless cricket and foster a cohesive team,” Sarfaraz expressed in a statement.

Among his notable records, Sarfaraz holds the Pakistani record for the most catches in a single Test match, achieving 10 catches against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2019. He remains the only Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI century at Lord's, accomplishing this feat against England in 2016.

His era of captaincy significantly nurtured the next generation of Pakistani cricket, backing players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, and Shadab Khan early in their careers. Sarfaraz made his international debut in an ODI in 2007 and played his last match—a Test against Australia in Perth—in 2023.

“Watching players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Hasan Ali evolve into match-winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest moments. I extend my gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board for their faith in me over the years. Pakistani cricket has always been dear to me, and I will continue to support the sport in every possible manner,” Sarfaraz added.

Last year, the PCB appointed Ahmed as manager and mentor for the Pakistan Shaheens and under-19 teams. He was also part of the squad during the U19 World Cup held this year in Zimbabwe and Namibia, as well as in the Asia Cup Rising Stars event and the U19 Asia Cup.