Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has rubbished the rumours that suggested that he is moving to the UK with his family.

Rumours of Sarfaraz Ahmed moving to the UK surfaced in the media on January 20. According to reports, Sarfaraz had already left Pakistan with his wife and two children after he had felt “disheartened and hopeless about the future”.

The reports also mentioned that despite the ‘move’, Sarfaraz had been “keen to maintain his connection with Pakistani cricket” and had assured of his availability in the 2024 PSL.

Speaking to Samaa Digital on the same day, Sarfaraz “vehemently denied” the reports. “I can’t even think of leaving Pakistan. Confirm before running such fabricated news,” he said, adding that he was “sad to see such news.”

From 54 Test matches, Sarfaraz has 3,031 runs at 37.41 and 182 dismissals. Among Pakistan wicketkeepers, no one has more runs, though Wasim Bari and Kamran Akmal have more victims.

Sarfaraz replaced Mohammad Rizwan, five years younger to him, in the Test XI in 2023, but relinquished his place to the younger man after failing twice in the Perth Test match in December 2023. Rizwan responded with 42 and 35 at Melbourne and 88 and 28 at Sydney. While there is no evidence, the rumours around Sarfaraz’s move might have to do with him being replaced by Rizwan at the age of 36.

Sarfaraz has also played in 117 ODIs (2,315 runs at 33.55, strike rate 88, 143 dismissals) and 61 T20Is (818 runs at a strike rate of 125, 46 dismissals), and led Pakistan to success at the 2006 Under-19 World Cup and the 2017 Champions Trophy. Pakistan beat arch rivals India in both finals, and the latter remains their last ICC trophy till date.

With 1,503 runs (strike rate 124) and 49 dismissals, he has also been a mainstay for the Quetta Gladiators at the Pakistan Super League.

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