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Sarfaraz Ahmed announces retirement from international cricket
Former Test captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a distinguished career spanning around two decades, according to a press release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Karachi-born wicketkeeper-batter, who made his ODI debut in 2007 before making his Test and T20I debuts in 2010, went on to represent Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs and 61 T20Is.
He scored 6,164 runs across formats, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, he grabbed 315 catches and completed 56 stumpings during his international career.
Sarfaraz captained Pakistan in 100 international matches across formats, including 50 ODIs, 37 T20Is, 13 Tests, and led the side to the No 1 ranking in T20I cricket.
During his captaincy, Pakistan achieved a world-record streak of 11 consecutive T20I series victories and recorded six clean sweeps, which include against West Indies (2016 and 2018), Sri Lanka (2017), Australia (2018), New Zealand (2018) and Scotland (2018).
Sarfaraz’s leadership era also saw the emergence of several future stars, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, whom he backed at the start of their international careers.
Sarfaraz led Pakistan to historic triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy, beating India by 180 runs in the final at the Oval in England.
With that victory, he became the first Pakistan captain to win the Champions Trophy and the only captain till date to win ICC titles at both junior and senior levels, having earlier led Pakistan to win in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2006 in Sri Lanka.
In recognition of his services and the Champions Trophy triumph, Sarfaraz was awarded the Pride of Performance in 2018, becoming the youngest Pakistan captain to receive the honour.
Talking about his individual records, Sarfaraz has the Pakistan record of 10 catches in a Test match, which he took against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2019. He is to date the only Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s, which he scored against England in 2016.
Sarfaraz, who played his first international match (ODI) in 2007, made his last international appearance in an international match (Test) against Australia in Perth in 2023.
“It has been the greatest honour of my life to represent Pakistan. From leading the U19 team to a world title in 2006 to lifting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, every moment in Pakistan colours has been special. I am grateful to my teammates, coaches, family and the fans for their unwavering support throughout my career,” the former skipper said in a statement.
“Captaining Pakistan across all formats was a dream come true. I always tried to play fearless cricket and build a united team. Seeing players like Babar, Fakhar, Hasan, Shaheen, Shadab and others grow into match-winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest achievements,” he added.
He also thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board for the trust “they placed in me over the years”.
“Pakistan cricket has always been very close to my heart and I will continue to support the game in every possible way,” he concluded.
- End to Mideast war need of region, wider world: Dar.
- DPM Dar hopes Islamabad Talks to conclude “soon”.
- Dar says objective is “dignified” end to Mideast conflict.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday expressed hope that Pakistan’s efforts to mediate an end to the US-Iran conflict will succeed at the earliest, calling it a necessity for the region and the wider world.
“Whatever has happened so far, it has already dented a global GDP to a great degree,” he told foreign ambassadors and diplomatic corps in Islamabad, saying the end to the conflict in the Middle East was Pakistan’s “goal and aim” as facilitator and mediator.
DPM Dar said that Islamabad was actively working to engage the US and Iran to negotiate a peaceful settlement to their disputes, adding that the country has consistently supported stability and restraint in the Middle East.
DPM Dar noted Islamabad’s global diplomatic outreach for a resolution to the conflict, saying he has discussed the matter with around 120 counterparts worldwide since the start of the war.
The interactions, he said, reflected Pakistan’s seriousness in its efforts to get the US and Iran to reach a truce and put an end to the conflict.
Pakistan emerged as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran after hostilities began on February 28, following US-Israel strikes on Iran.
After six weeks of war, Pakistan brokered a two-week ceasefire on April 8, and later hosted direct talks between the two sides in its federal capital.
In his address, DPM Dar said that the Islamabad Talks, held between April 10 and 11, reached an “advanced level”.
“We still hope that it [Islamabad Talks] will eventually and hopefully very soon conclude,” he added.
Recalling Islamabad’s peace efforts, DPM Dar said that Pakistan has continuously engaged Iran and the US to negotiate for a lasting truce since brokering the ceasefire.
He added that Islamabad managed to bring the US and Iran to the table for direct talks for the first time in 47 years.
DPM Dar said that the country’s mediation efforts had been acknowledged internationally, and that Pakistan remained in constant contact with global stakeholders as part of its responsibilities in promoting peace.
The entire consultative process was aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East, DPM Dar said, adding that Pakistan continued to act as a bridge between the two sides.
“[The] objective is common… that this conflict ends in a dignified manner. It should be a win-win,” he said.
However, DPM Dar stressed that Islamabad could not get into details of its efforts as a mediator and facilitator due to the sensitive nature of the matter.
His remarks come hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that talks with the US were making progress with Pakistan’s “gracious effort”, reiterating that there was no military solution to the crisis.
The Iranian foreign minister’s statement followed renewed attacks by Washington and Tehran in the Gulf on Monday as they wrestled for control over the Strait of Hormuz with duelling maritime blockades.
US President Donald Trump launched a new effort to get stranded tankers and other ships through the strait, provoking a promised show of force from Iran, which has threatened to respond to any escalation with new attacks on its neighbours hosting US bases.
The nominations for the 79th Annual Tony Awards were announced Tuesday morning, May 5, 2026.
Several acclaimed stars, including John Lithgow, Daniel Radcliffe, Rose Byrne, Lesley Manville and Nathan Lane have received nominations for the 2025-2026 Broadway season.
Actors Uzo Aduba and Darren Criss announced the nominations live from Sofitel New York.
CBS Mornings first revealed the top categories even before the full list was read on the Tony Awards YouTube channel.
Where to watch the awards show?
The ceremony will air live on CBS from Radio City Music Hall on June 7. Singer-songwriter Pink will host. It will also stream on the Paramount+ premium tier.
Kelli O’Hara received her ninth career Tony nomination, for her role alongside Byrne in a revival of Fallen Angels. She has won the award once.
Bess Wohl’s Liberation is among the best new play nominees. The play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama just one day before the nominations were announced.
A total of 19 plays and 11 musicals are eligible for awards this season. Nominations were selected by a committee of 55 theater professionals with no financial stake in any of the eligible productions.
Full list of nominees in major categories:
Best New Musical
- Schmigadoon!
- Titaníque
- Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Best New Play
- The Balusters
- Giant
- Liberation
- Little Bear Ridge Road
Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
- Will Harrison — Punch
- Nathan Lane — Death of a Salesman
- John Lithgow — Giant
- Daniel Radcliffe — Every Brilliant Thing
- Mark Strong — Oedipus
Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
- Rose Byrne — Fallen Angels
- Carrie Coon — Bug
- Susannah Flood — Liberation
- Lesley Manville — Oedipus
- Kelli O’Hara — Fallen Angels
Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
- Nicholas Christopher — Chess
- Luke Evans — The Rocky Horror Show
- Joshua Henry — Ragtime
- Sam Tutty — Two Strangers
- Brandon Uranowitz — Ragtime
Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
- Sara Chase — Schmigadoon!
- Stephanie Hsu — The Rocky Horror Show
- Caissie Levy — Ragtime
- Marla Mindelle — Titaníque
- Christiani Pitts — Two Strangers
Director and playwright James Lapine, lighting designer Jules Fisher and theater executive Andre Bishop will receive the Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Pakistan ‘hopeful’ efforts will lead to early resolution of US-Iran conflict: DPM Dar
Sugarcane price hike: Govt raises FRP to Rs 365/quintal for 2026-27, farmers to benefit from higher returns – The Times of India
Climate is now in the cost sheet
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