Reports from different sources are circulating in the media which suggest that Sarfaraz Ahmed likely to be removed as a captain of Quetta Gladiators for the upcoming season of Pakistan Super League 2024 as Quetta Gladiators (QG) management is currently considering a change in the leadership of their team. It is understood that the main consent within the Quetta Gladiators franchise suggests that Sarfraz Ahmed should be replaced but the final decision is yet to be taken regarding his removal from captaincy. Sarfraz Ahmed has served Quetta Gladiators as a captain for eight years since the inaugural of the Pakistan Super League in 2016.
Although subsequent adjustments are not unusual it is normal for all the HBL PSL franchises to declare their captaincy choices during the draft where Quetta Gladiators made an important declaration and made Sarfraz Ahmed their chosen captain on the day of the HBL PSL Draft.
Changes made by QG for PSL 9
Quetta Gladiators have already made some significant changes as they appointed Moin Khan as the director of the Quetta Gladiators team from the post of Head Coach of the franchise and appointed their former al-rounder Shane Watson as the new Head Coach of the team. Furthermore, Quetta Gladiators also appointed former Australian right-arm fast bowler Shaun Tait as their fast-bowling coach for HBL PSL 9 2024.
Quetta Gladiators also made two trades ahead of the HBL PSL 9. One of their trades involved their premium fast bowler Naseem Shah with Islamabad United in place of their fast bowler Muhammad Wasim Jr. and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed. Now, speculation is raised about Sarfaraz Ahmed likely to be removed as a Captain of Quetta Gladiators, if it happens, then it would be another bold step made by the Quetta Gladiators’ management.
On the other hand, Quetta Gladiators also traded Iftikhar Ahmed with Multan Sultans in place of Rilee Rossouw who was initially part of the Quetta Gladiators. As a result of both trades, Quetta Gladiators also exchanged their pick orders for the HBL PSL Draft 2024.
QG performance in PSL
Quetta Gladiators was one of the most consistent teams of the HBL Pakistan Super League since its inaugural season and lifted the HBL PSL title in the fourth edition in 2019. But since 2019, Quetta Gladiators have failed to qualify for the playoffs of the HBL PSL so far. These changes in Quetta Gladiators come at an important time as they look to reverse their fortune in the upcoming edition of Pakistan Super League 2024.
Sarfaraz Ahmed as Quetta Gladiators Captain
The Karachi-born 36-year-old Sarfaraz Ahmed has been leading the Quetta Gladiators team as a captain since the start of the Pakistan Super League in 2016 and reached the finals in the first edition of HBL PSL. Under his leadership, Quetta Gladiator became the HBL PSL Champions in 2019 and also became runners-up twice in the first two editions of the Pakistan Super League.
Additionally, Sarfraz Ahmed will be the only player in the history of the Pakistan Super League who represents a single franchise (Quetta Gladiators) for nine consecutive years. Additionally, under Sarfraz Ahmed’s captaincy, Quetta Gladiators have played 80 matches in HBL PSL, won 38 matches & lost 41, and one match ended with No Result.
Left-arm spinner all-rounder Muhammad Nawaz is the only other player who captained Quetta Gladiators in the absence of Sarfraz Ahmed for just only 02 matches in Pakistan Super League season 8 2023 with one win and one defeat.
Sarfraz Ahmed as a Batsman: The right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman has played matches in the Pakistan Super League and scored 1503 runs in his 68 innings with an average of 31.31 at a strike rate of 123.8. He scored 7 fifties in the Pakistan Super League and his PSL career-best score was 81 against Peshawar Zalmi. Furthermore, Sarfraz Ahmed is the highest runs scorer for Quetta Gladiators as he played throughout this franchise.