Sarfaraz Ahmed offers advice to Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal ahead of Champions ODI Cup

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has offered advice to senior batters Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal ahead of the Champions One-Day Cup, scheduled from September 12 to 29 at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. 

Shehzad and Akmal, who debuted for Pakistan in 2009 and were key team members until 2016, last played for the national side during the 2019 home T20I series against Sri Lanka, where their performances were underwhelming. 

Shehzad managed only 4 and 13 runs, while Akmal was dismissed for consecutive golden ducks, leading to their exclusion from the team. 

Recently, Shehzad announced his decision to boycott the Champions Cup, casting doubts on both players' future in cricket.

Sarfaraz, who will be mentoring the Dolphins in the tournament, addressed this issue, urging both players to make a clear decision about their commitment to the sport.

“They should definitely play cricket but if they really want to. Firstly, they need to decide whether they want to play or not,” Sarfaraz said.

“I think both of them are immensely talented players, there’s no doubt about their talent. They played outstanding cricket for Pakistan but I think it’s their own decision,” he added.

The former skipper also highlighted the importance of a balanced team, combining both senior and junior players. 

He emphasized that experienced players play a crucial role in mentoring and guiding the younger generation, while also reminding that young players must earn their spot through performance.

“There should be a combination of senior and junior players while playing cricket. We must remember that the senior player cemented his place with a lot of hard work,” he said.

“It has become a trend that ‘we need young players’. A youngster would cement his place by himself with performance,” he concluded.

The PCB has recently appointed five distinguished mentors for the Champions One-Day Cup: Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, and Waqar Younis. These mentors, contracted for three years, will guide the teams throughout the domestic season.

The Champions One-Day Cup, a key event in the PCB Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25, will feature five teams: Dolphins, Lions, Panthers, Stallions, and Wolves. Misbah-ul-Haq will mentor the Wolves, Shoaib Malik the Stallions, Waqar Younis the Lions, and Saqlain Mushtaq the Panthers.