SARFRAZ AHMED (ICON)

Sarfraz Ahmed is a wicketkeeper batsman who could have meandered into irrelevance, as has been the case for many capable cricketers on Pakistan’s domestic circuit. Instead, he became the first Pakistan captain since the great Imran Khan to win a 50-over world title.

Sarfraz took over the ODI reins in February 2017, providing his side with rare single-minded direction and focus. In June that year, Pakistan went into the Champions Trophy as the lowest-ranked team and lost heavily against India to start off, but then went on a red-hot run to beat South Africa, Sri Lanka and hosts England, and finally India to claim the prize.

A right-hand middle-order batsman, Sarfraz wasn’t always the sprightly presence that bossed the Sharjah Test of 2014 – when Pakistan chased 302 in 57.3 overs to level the series. In fact, between 2007 – when he made his debut – and 2014, Sarfraz had played just four Tests, four T20Is and 26 ODIs. He was miles off being a regular in any of Pakistan’s sides, and not nearly good enough to warrant a place as a specialist batsman; he hadn’t scored an international half-century in all this time. It was an era when the Akmals – no less than three of them – had taken out a lease on the area behind the stumps.