Cricket
Sarfaraz Ahmed in PSL 2025: Will He Play or Take a Coaching Role?
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s impact on Quetta Gladiators continues. Uncover how his leadership shaped the franchise and what’s next for PSL 2025.
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Sarfraz Ahmed of Pakistan celebrates with the ICC Champions Trophy/ Getty Images
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s tenure in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been impossible to forget. As the team's captain, Sarfaraz led the Quetta Gladiators to four PSL finals, finally claiming their maiden title in the 2019 edition of the tournament, cementing his place as one of the league's most iconic figures.
Known for his sharp-witted leadership, enthusiastic nature on the field of play and sheer dedication, Sarfaraz not only captained his team but also etched his name into the hearts of fans. However, as PSL 2025 approaches, Sarfaraz’s journey prepares to begin an interesting new chapter.
Is Sarfaraz Ahmed Playing PSL 2025?
Sarfaraz Ahmed has been one of the most prominent figures in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), both as a player and captain. His career in the PSL had been marked by stellar leadership, consistency and outstanding contributions on the field of play.
Ahead of the inaugural edition of PSL in 2016, Quetta Gladiators owner Nadeem Omar appointed the quick-witted, openly expressive wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed to captain the Purple Force for the tournament.
This set off a chain of events that would later see Sarfaraz become Pakistan’s ODI captain a year later, leading his nation to the largest margin of victory in any ICC ODI tournament final. An emphatic 180-run thrashing of arch-rivals India to lift the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in London, galvanising owner Nadeem Omar’s decision for Sarfaraz to be the commander in chief of the Gladiators.
However, it did take some time to translate that level of success while donning the purple and gold of Quetta, finishing runners-up after losing to Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi in the 2016 and 2017 PSL finals respectively.
However, in 2019, Quetta Gladiators finally reigned supreme under the stewardship of Sarfaraz, claiming their first Pakistan Super League title with Australian all-rounder Shane Watson being named Player of the Tournament.
Sarfaraz Ahmed has been an influential captain, inspiring confidence within his teammates with his tactical intelligence for eight seasons, not forgetting his contributions with bat in hand.
| Season | Innings | High Score | Average | Strike Rate | Bonus |
| 2016 | 9 | 51 | 28.00 | 115.0 | 168 |
| 2017 | 9 | 56 | 26.14 | 131.6 | 183 |
| 2018 | 9 | 45 | 37.16 | 129.6 | 223 |
| 2019 | 7 | 52 | 29.20 | 119.6 | 146 |
| 2020 | 9 | 41 | 21.14 | 128.6 | 148 |
| 2021 | 10 | 81 | 45.85 | 137.7 | 321 |
| 2022 | 7 | 50 | 38.00 | 115.1 | 152 |
| 2023 | 8 | 41 | 27.00 | 104.5 | 162 |
| 2024 | 5 | 11 | 5.50 | 75.8 | 22 |
Boasting an average of 29,32 runs from 73 PSL innings (86 matches), including seven 50s, Sarfaraz is Quetta Gladiators’ all-time leading run scorer with 1,525 runs. He also tallied 56 dismissals as a wicketkeeper, the third most in PSL history behind Mohammad Rizwan (83) and Kamran Akmal (62).
He qualified for the final in three of the first four PSL tournaments, showcasing his leadership qualities, and his ability to anticipate the next move on a cricket field is undeniable.
However, after a few underwhelming campaigns in the PSL, Sarfaraz chose to step aside from the captaincy role last season, handing over the responsibility to hard-hitting South African batsman Rilee Rossouw.
As for this season, Sarfaraz will not play in the 10th edition of the PSL, with owner Nadeem Omar seemingly restructuring team dynamics and leadership roles.
Sarfaraz took to social media to bid farewell: "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." Sarfaraz wrote.
Expressing his gratitude to the owner Nadeem Omar, he further said, "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. I will always remember your support throughout this time."
PSL 2025 Draft & Squad Selection
Earlier this year at the PSL 2025 draft, Sarfaraz went unselected by any team after shockingly being released by Quetta Gladiators prior to the draft. With Pakistan’s Test Match vice-captain and hard-hitting left-hand opening batsman Saud Shakeel officially appointed as the new captain of Quetta Gladiators ahead of PSL10, the club took to social media to make their announcement:
“Introducing the new Commander of the Gladiators, Saud Shakeel. With fresh energy and unshakable determination, he’s ready to lead the Quetta Gladiators to glory in the Pakistan Super League 10. The rise of the Gladiators begins now!”
Rilee Rossouw, along with Kusal Mendis and Sean Abbott, are the key foreign players who were selected for the upcoming PSL season. They will be expected to help the new captain Shakeel with their quality and experience on the international stage, while the evergreen Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Amir will provide even more guidance.
The change in captaincy was looming large from last season when owner Nadeem Omar previously stated, “It would be nicer if Sarfaraz handed Gladiators captaincy away on his own and that Sarfaraz had even agreed to do so if required.”
Omar further explained, "It is the elephant in the room. Wherever I go, people ask me this. But our franchise is a bit different from the others in the sense that we have a very intimate relationship with these players. I understand cricketers have a shelf life, but I think that over Pakistan's history, we tend to dump players unceremoniously.
"Sarfaraz has been off the boil over the last couple of years. There are a lot of reasons for that. The way he was unceremoniously ousted by the PCB didn't help, especially when he had a few more years. We won't dump him unceremoniously. We haven't decided yet, but we'll give him full honours. Sarfaraz told me he would be happy to step aside if Quetta wants to make a change. We have a call with Shane Watson in a couple of days, and then we'll decide."
The Australian coach went on to choose Rossouw for the captaincy last year, however, this season’s coach, Moin Khan, has opted for Saud Shakeel as his preferred leader to build a new team at Quetta Gladiators.
Departure from Quetta Gladiators
His nine-year association as a player at Quetta ended on a sour note with his team relegated to the bottom of the PSL standings. Sarfaraz, aged 37, could have possibly played a few more seasons while the new crop of players properly found their feet, but the team has opted for a change in leadership, encouraging youth in the form of Saud Shakeel to lead the Gladiators back to former glory.
Shortly after Sarfaraz bid farewell to the Gladiators faithful, owner Nadeem Omar, while speaking to the media in Lahore, emphasised that Sarfraz was the heart and soul of Quetta Gladiators, and the team could not part ways with him. "You will see him in a new role," said Omar.
He further mentioned that Sarfraz would work under the guidance of Moin Khan and would learn while both himself (Omar Nadeem) and Moin Khan would take a backseat, allowing Sarfraz to take the lead.
Possible Role in PSL 2025
Multiple reports in the media then speculated that Sarfaraz would be joining Quetta Gladiators as head coach. With his proven leadership skills and undeniable understanding of the game, it made perfect sense, seeing as Head Coach Shane Watson withdrew from his role due to scheduling conflicts.
Watson has probably relinquished his role at Quetta to set his sights on glory in the USA by winning the third edition of Major League Cricket after his San Franciso Unicorns team lost to Washington Freedom in the final last season, courtesy of fellow Australian Steve Smith’s Man of the Match heroics.
Sarfaraz was officially appointed as Team Director, with ICC World Cup winner Moin Khan as Head Coach and Saud Shakeel as captain. It remains to be seen how each role will be fulfilled, but the Gladiators have all the ingredients to create a new team to become the catalyst of Quetta returning to top of the PSL rankings.
Under the tutelage of Moin Khan, Sarfaraz led Quetta Gladiators to glory in the PSL, which played a large factor in Sarfaraz being chosen to lead Pakistan across all formats. Amassing even more success for Pakistan at the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, bringing home the gold.
Currently, Saud Shakeel is the vice-captain of Pakistan’s Test team and is potentially in the process of being groomed by both Sarfaraz and Moin Khan to possibly become the national team captain in the near future.
Quetta Gladiators' Head Coach, Moin Khan, made very honest comments to the media after Pakistan’s most recent ICC Champions Trophy disaster.
"I am listening to the comments of many former players nowadays, but since we are already losing, why not just build a new team? What is the worst that can happen? We will lose, but at least we would have done something different." Said Moin.
"Look, no one is saying they are not good players, but every player, no matter who he is, has to justify his place in the side on consistent performances.”
"Especially with the social media nowadays because when selectors drop a senior or not so senior player there is criticism on why he was dropped. When the team doesn't do well, the same players are brought back, and we keep on losing. So, we are headed nowhere."
It is clear from these sentiments about his beloved national team that Head Coach Moin Khan is looking ahead to the future and building a new team that will possibly begin at Quetta Gladiators.
With their recent restructuring that has seen Sarfaraz move into the Team Director role, Quetta Gladiators seem determined to make Saud Shakeel’s tenure as captain very successful, giving him the most assistance possible in the form of Sarfaraz.
Fan Reactions & Future Prospects
Fan Reactions & Future Prospects
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s departure from Quetta Gladiators as a player has sparked mixed reactions among fans. Many have seen the wicketkeeper-batsman as the heartbeat of the franchise since the beginning of the PSL.
Sarfaraz seems destined to become a coach during the twilight of his career. However, I wouldn’t rule out an appearance if any of the Gladiators are sidelined with injury during the course of the tournament.
Quetta Gladiators’ social media platforms were filled with tributes for their previous captain, with a handful of supporters thinking back on his quality leadership, leading the Purple Force to the 2019 PSL title.
Fans appreciated his contribution to Quetta, from his leadership to his pivotal match-winning performances and his commitment to the Quetta Gladiators' cause. His departure feels like the end of an era.
While some fans were displeased at the team’s choice to move on from their longstanding captain, others understood the need for change. Recognizing that the franchise needed fresh energy to reclaim its competitive edge in PSL 2025.
Looking ahead, the future of the Quetta Gladiators seems promising. The appointment of Saud Shakeel as the new captain has been received quite well. The 29-year-old’s leadership abilities can gain recognition under the tutelage of Moin Khan, one of Pakistan's most respected cricketing minds, just like Sarfaraz did a decade ago.
Shakeel has been earmarked with the potential to guide the Gladiators to success, fully supported by Sarfaraz's new role as Team Director. This mentorship promises to blend experience and fresh blood, providing a strong foundation for future successes.
Personally, I am optimistic about the shift in team dynamics, eagerly awaiting the blend of youth and seasoned leadership to elevate the team forward. Whether this transition proves to be the spark Quetta needs to return to the top remains to be seen, but with the restructured leadership setup, the Gladiators welcome an exciting new chapter.
Conclusion
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s PSL journey has been one of the most prominent stories in the league’s short history. From leading Quetta Gladiators to their maiden PSL title to becoming an iconic figure for the team and later Pakistan, Sarfaraz’s legacy is firmly etched.
Transitioning to the role of Team Director, he remains an important part of the Gladiators’ journey. His wealth of experience will be crucial in mentoring the next wave of players, and under his watchful guidance, the Gladiators’ future looks bright. Sarfaraz’s strategic insight and leadership will continue to guide the Quetta Gladiators toward future success.
Bryan is a passionate sports writer with a focus on football and cricket. While he loves top leagues like the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and the Premier League, he also covers lesser-known leagues, offering previews and tips for sports betting sites.