Two-time ICC event winner Sarfaraz Ahmed has been confirmed as the mentor for the Dolphins team, based at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi, as announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today.
The Dolphins are one of the five teams set to compete in the Champions One-Day Cup, which will take place in Faisalabad from September 12 to 29.
The Dolphins will kick off their tournament on September 14 against Saqlain Mushtaq’s Panthers. They will then face Misbah-ul-Haq’s Wolves on September 17, Shoaib Malik’s Stallions on September 19, and Waqar Younis’ Lions on September 22.
The Champions One-Day Cup will showcase the top 150 cricketers in Pakistan, with all matches following a 50-over format in a single-league competition. Most games, starting at 3 PM, promise thrilling cricket action, except for the Lions vs. Panthers match on September 16, which will begin at 9:30 AM. The tournament will feature three playoff matches, culminating in the final on Sunday, September 29.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, known for leading Pakistan to victories in the ICC U19 World Cup (2006) and the ICC Champions Trophy (2017), brings a wealth of experience to the Dolphins. With a career that includes being a key player in the ACC Asia Cup (2012), achieving the No.1 ICC T20I Team ranking as captain, and holding the record for most dismissals in a single ODI (six catches), Sarfaraz is eager to take on this dual role as mentor and player.
“Mentoring the Dolphins in such a competitive tournament is an exciting new challenge for me,” Sarfaraz stated. “I’m looking forward to both playing and guiding the team to success. My goal is to help the players and coaching staff develop their skills while delivering my best on the field.”
Sarfaraz has been a part of many memorable matches with the Dolphins, including a dramatic last-over loss to the Stallions in the 2007/08 T20 Cup final and a victorious 78-run win over the Bears in the 2009/10 Pentangular One-Day Cup final.
As Pakistan’s best players and coaches come together under the guidance of experienced mentors, Sarfaraz believes the Champions One-Day Cup will exceed expectations. “With the support of passionate Pakistan cricket fans, I’m confident that this tournament will be a huge success,” he added.
Dolphins Match Schedule (all matches start at 3 PM):
- September 14: Dolphins vs Panthers
- September 17: Dolphins vs Wolves
- September 19: Stallions vs Dolphins
- September 22: Dolphins vs Lions
