KARACHI: Sarfaraz Ahmad, who remained with Quetta Gladiators for all previous nine seasons of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), has bid farewell to the franchise before draft of 10th season.
Gladiators released Sarfaraz in their announced retention list after which speculations were there that the franchise will pick him in the draft.
Gladiators’ owner Nadeem Omar himself, in a statement after retention lists were announced, said they will pick their former captain in draft on January 13.
However, Sarfaraz has now announced that his journey with Gladiators has ended.
“Today I want to tell you that my time with Quetta Gladiators has come to an end and I feel very proud that my journey of 9 years with this amazing team has been wonderful and beautiful, wrote Sarfaraz.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank Nadeem Bhai for giving me the opportunity to play for his team and for providing everything that I needed as a player and captain and I will always remember your support throughout this time.
“My best wishes will always be with your team and lastly I would like to thank your team management who have been great. Special thanks to Azam Bhai.”
After this announcement, there were speculations that the former Pakistani captain will be picked by his hometown team Karachi Kings.
However, a source closer to Kings has confirmed to GeoSuper.tv that Sarfaraz is not in their plans so far.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was associated with Quetta Gladiators since the inception of the league, was released by the former champions earlier this month and thus will be a part of the players draft for the first time since the inaugural edition in 2016.
The wicketkeeper batter played 86 PSL matches for the Gladiators and scored 1525 at 29.32 with the help of seven half-centuries. He also led the Gladiators to their maiden and only PSL title in 2019.
Notably, Sarfaraz captained the Gladiators for eight PSL seasons until he was replaced by South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw in the previous edition.
Muzamil Asif- Sarfaraz Ahmed