LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was confirmed as the mentor of the Dolphins side for this month’s Champions One-Day Cup, which will be played in Faisalabad from 12-29 September.
Dolphins will be based at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi and will launch their campaign against Saqlain Mushtaq’s Panthers on 14 September.
The Champions One-Day Cup will feature the country’s 150 best of the best cricketers. This will be a 50-over tournament that will be played in a single-league format.
All but the 16 September match between Lions and Panthers, which will start at 9.30 am, will commence at 3 pm. There will be three playoffs in four days with the final on Sunday, 29 September.
Sarfaraz Ahmed has captained Pakistan to victories in the ICC U19 World Cup 2006 and ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
He was also a member of the Pakistan side that won the ACC Asia Cup 2012. As a captain, he also led Pakistan to No.1 in ICC T20I Team Rankings.
Sarfaraz also became the first Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI World Cup century when he scored 101 not out against Ireland in Adelaide in 2015.
He also holds the record for most dismissals in an ODI match (all 6 catches) and is only the second wicket-keeper to have captained his side in 50 or more ODIs. He is also the 17th on the ODI list of wicket-keepers with 2,000 runs and 100 dismissals.
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“Mentoring a highly-rated Dolphins side in what promises to be a keenly contested and hard-fought tournament is something I’m eagerly looking forward to,” said the former captain.
“This will be a new experience for me and I’m excited about the opportunity to learn and further develop my skills as a cricket professional.
“What makes this role even more exciting and challenging is that I will also be participating in the tournament as a player.
“While my passion and drive to win each match remain as strong as ever, my role will also involve supporting and assisting the captain, players, and coaching staff to enhance their skills and become better players.
“I am fully committed to this role and am eager to make a meaningful contribution to the Dolphins side, with whom I have been involved in some of the most memorable matches.
“These include the last-over loss to the Stallions in the 2007/08 T20 Cup final, a 78-run victory over the Bears in the 2009/10 Pentangular One-Day Cup final and a 37-run loss to the Lions in the 2010/11 T20 Cup final.
“With the country’s best players and top-notch coaches under the watchful eyes of experienced former stalwarts as mentors, I am confident that this Champions One-Day Cup will exceed the expectations of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the passionate Pakistan cricket fans, whose unwavering support is always crucial.
“I believe all players will deliver their best performances, making this tournament an overwhelming success.”
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