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Azhar Ali announces retirement from Test cricket

He retired from One-Day International cricket in 2018.

Azhar Ali on Friday announced his retirement from Test cricket!

Pakistan’s top-order batter Azhar Ali, while addressing a press conference that he will be retiring from Test cricket following the third Test against England, which begins on Saturday in Karachi at the National Stadium.

Azhar said, “It has been a great honour and privilege for me to represent my country at the highest level. Deciding on when to call it a day is always tough, but, after contemplating deeply, I realised that this is the right time for me to retire from Test cricket,” said the player.

Azhar Ali went on to add that “There are many people who I am grateful to in this strenuous, yet beautiful journey. I want to make a special mention of my family without whose sacrifices; I would not have been where I am today. My parents, wife, siblings, and children have been my strength throughout.

“I have been blessed to share the dressing room with some of the most outstanding cricketers with whom I share a strong bond. I feel much richer by calling these people my friends. I am also blessed to have played under some wonderful coaches to whom I will always remain grateful.

“I retire from international cricket as a fulfilled cricketer who ticked most of the goals he had set for himself. Not many cricketers go on to lead their countries, and that I was able to captain Pakistan is a matter of great pride for me. From being a kid who started as a leg-spinner to becoming a mainstay in the Test batting line-up, I had the loveliest moments of my life that I will cherish forever.”

Azhar Ali is regarded as one of Pakistan’s most successful batters.

Azhar Ali is Pakistan’s fifth leading Test run-getter behind Younis Khan (10,099), Javed Miandad (8,832), Inzamam-ul-Haq (8,829) and Mohammad Yousuf (7,530).

In 96 test matches, he scored 7,097 runs at an average of 42.49.

Azhar Ali also captained Pakistan in nine Tests in two separate tenures from 2016 to 2020.

He retired from One-Day International cricket in 2018.

 

Saman Siddiqui
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Saman Siddiqui

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