NOT many sportsmen are irreplaceable – but that is what Brian Pearson reckons Pakistani Sarfraz Ahmed is to Woodlands.

The 42-year-old first played for the All Rounder Bradford Premier League heavyweights in 2001 and wraps up his commitment to the Albert Terrace club in the Priestley Cup final against Pudsey St Lawrence at Spen Victoria tomorrow (noon).

Overseas player Ahmed has scored some 4,700 league runs in that time and taken 787 wickets – yet almost as importantly, Woodlands cricket secretary Pearson says: "He has never given us a moment's trouble.

"The funny thing is that when we signed him in the winter of 2000 via an agent, we were also offered Mohammad Sami, who went on to play for Pakistan.

"But we opted to sign Saffy as he was recommended to us by Russell Heritage, who played for Aston Hall the season before with Saffy and said that we must sign him."

Since then, the left-arm pace bowler and aggressive bat has lit up the Bradford League.

Pearson said: "He bowls off half a wrong foot and because he is 6ft 7in, he has always been able to get bounce.

"His stock ball is about 80mph but his fastest ball is nudging 90mph.

"His left knee is giving him major problems now, so he has had to manage that this season via a shorter run-up as his pace mainly comes from his shoulder.

"As for his batting, he isn't a batsman, he is a hitter.

"His stock shot can clear the scorebox from the Salthorn end of our ground and I have lost count of the number of games that he has taken away from the opposition with his batting.

"A classic example was the recent game at home to St Lawrence, when we were 158-5, and Saffy hit 62 not out in 23 balls (four fours, six sixes) to take us to 241-5 and St Lawrence were dismissed for 153.

"As for his fielding, Saffy is usually at fine leg or third man but he has a very safe pair of hands and has run people out as he has a strong arm."

Pearson admits that the league could not have a better cup final (St Lawrence top the table while Woodlands are fifth) and he confided that Ahmed is certainly confident of the outcome, apparently telling fellow opening bowler Elliot Richardson 'Don't worry, I will win it for us!'

But while some will want to see Ahmed go home to Gujranwala in the Punjab on Tuesday with a winners' trophy, Pearson knows that it won't be as simple as that.

He said: "It is 1-1 as far as our league matches go with them and St Lawrence are in the middle of a very successful period.

"They have a very effective spin attack and have three of the best batsmen in the league in Mark Robertshaw, Adam Waite and James Smith."