Tag: Azhar Ali

LAHORE: Former champions Peshawar Zalmi have bolstered their coaching setup for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 by appointing former national captain Azhar Ali as their fielding coach.

The franchise confirmed the development through their official social media platforms shortly after the tournament opener, welcoming the experienced batter into their setup for the upcoming edition.

“We are pleased to welcome Azhar Ali, former Pakistan captain, as our fielding coach for PSL 11,” the franchise announced.

Highlighting his credentials, Zalmi added, “Armed with a compact technique and immense patience, Azhar Ali brings a composed and disciplined approach, along with vast international experience that will strengthen our fielding unit and elevate our intensity on the field. We are delighted to have you join the Zalmi family as we continue to raise the bar.”

 

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Peshawar Zalmi are set to begin their campaign against tournament debutants Rawalpindiz on Saturday at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Despite his long and decorated international career, Azhar’s involvement in the PSL as a player was limited to the inaugural edition, where he represented Lahore Qalandars.

He featured in seven matches, scoring 183 runs at a strike rate of 106.39, including one half-century, while also leading the side during that season.

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LAHORE: Former captain Azhar Ali has resigned from his positions within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), stepping down both as a member of the national men’s selection committee and as the Head of Youth Development, sources confirmed on Tuesday.

He had joined the national selection committee in October 2024 alongside former ICC elite umpire Aleem Dar and ex-Test pacer Aqib Javed. The trio joined Asad Shafiq, who was already serving on the panel.

Their arrival came at a turbulent time for Pakistani cricket, following the innings defeat in the Multan Test against England.

The revamped panel quickly made headlines when it opted for bold changes, dropping star batter Babar Azam and premier pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah from the remaining two Tests of the series.

The move sparked widespread debate but ultimately proved decisive as Pakistan bounced back to seal an impressive 2-1 series win.

A month later, in November 2024, the PCB appointed Azhar as the Head of Youth Development following a formal recruitment process.

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The role placed him at the heart of Pakistan cricket’s future planning: overseeing grassroots structures, designing long-term development pathways and shaping talent progression from junior to elite levels.

Azhar’s exit from both roles comes as a surprise, given the board’s emphasis on strengthening its development framework. The PCB has not yet issued an official statement regarding his resignation or the reasons behind it.

A respected figure in Pakistan cricket, Azhar Ali enjoyed a distinguished international career from 2010 to 2022, earning 97 Test and 53 ODI caps.

He captained Pakistan in nine Tests and 31 ODIs and played a central role in the country’s historic ICC Champions Trophy triumph in 2017.

Statistically, Azhar stands among Pakistan’s modern greats. With 7,097 runs in 96 Test matches at an average of 42.49, he is the nation’s fifth-highest Test run-scorer.

He is standing only behind Younis Khan, Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf. His career included 19 centuries and 34 half-centuries, beginning with a maiden Test fifty just two matches after debuting at Lord’s in 2010.

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Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali recently stated that Babar Azam is the most celebrated cricketer in the country since the iconic all-rounder Shahid Afridi, whose charisma and playing style won the hearts of fans worldwide.

Azhar, who is currently serving as a member of Pakistan’s selection committee, acknowledged that while he has often criticized Babar’s captaincy, he firmly believes that there should be no doubt regarding his batting.

“I have criticized Babar Azam a lot for his captaincy,” Azhar Ali said. “I still believe that after captaining for such a long time, he should have built another team during this period. But when it comes to his batting, I say, please stop.”

Azhar Ali defended Babar against those critics, who undermined his batting capabilities due to recent struggles.

He underscored the inevitable highs and lows that all players experience and insisted that Babar’s consistent performances have greatly enhanced Pakistan’s standing on the international cricketing stage.

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“He is the only player from Pakistan who has made a name for the country through his batting,” Azhar said.

“Even if he doesn’t perform well in some tournaments, that doesn’t take away from his achievements.”

Drawing vivid comparisons to Shahid Afridi, Azhar fondly depicted Babar Azam as one of those exceptional conventional batsmen who can truly electrify a crowd.

He reminisced about Afridi’s explosive batting style that endeared him to fans and noted that Babar has similarly won admiration through his graceful and elegant batting.

“Babar is the first player after Shahid bhai who has captured the attention of the world, including in India. A conventional batter getting such applause is rare,” he further added.

READ: Former Pakistan batter suggests resting Babar Azam for second West Indies Test

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed former captain Azhar Ali as the Head of Youth Development on Friday following a recruitment process.

Moreover, this role will be an extension of Azhar’s existing responsibilities, as he also serves as a member of the Men’s National Selection Committee.

Azhar, a celebrated figure in Pakistan cricket, began his journey at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2002 before transitioning to the senior national team.

Over a distinguished career spanning 2010 to 2022, he earned 97 Test and 53 ODI caps. He captained the national side in nine Tests and 31 ODIs and was a key member of Pakistan’s historic ICC Champions Trophy-winning squad in 2017.

As the Head of Youth Development, Azhar Ali is responsible for shaping the future of cricket in Pakistan. His role involves designing and implementing comprehensive youth cricket strategies, establishing strong grassroots cricket structures, and creating talent pathways.

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He will also collaborate with regional cricket associations to enhance age-group programs and educate emerging cricketers through the PCB’s Pathways Programme. Additionally, he will organize seminars and clinics to raise awareness about the essential off-field development aspects for aspiring players.

“I am honoured and excited to take on this important role. Having risen through the age-group ranks and played extensive club and domestic cricket, I understand the critical role grassroots development plays in shaping future stars,” said Azhar.

“Significant strides have already been made in this area and I look forward to working with my colleagues to further elevate our youth development programme further.

“Our goal is to identify promising talent and equip them with the tools to excel at the highest level.”

The PCB congratulated Azhar Ali on his appointment and expressed confidence that his experience and vision will significantly contribute to the growth and success of youth cricket in Pakistan.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday revealed the new selection committee, which includes former ICC umpire Aleem Dar as well as former cricketers Azhar Ali and Aqib Javed.

The cricket board announced the decision on their website through a press release.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board [PCB] has confirmed the recomposition of the men’s national selection committee. It now includes Aleem Dar, Aqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and Hasan Cheema as voting members,” the PCB stated.

It’s worth noting that Aleem Dar drew curtains on a glittering career during the Champions One-Day Cup last month.

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The last selection committee consisted of current selector Asad Shafiq along with former captain Mohammad Yousuf as well as the captain and head coach of the respective formats.

However, Yousuf resigned from his role as a member of the national selection committee on 29 September. The 50-year-old cited personal reasons for his decision in a statement on his social media account.

“I announce my resignation as a selector for the Pakistan cricket team due to personal reasons. Serving this incredible team has been a profound privilege, and I am proud to have contributed to the growth and success of Pakistan Cricket,” Mohammad Yousuf said in his post on X.

“I have immense faith in the talent and spirit of our players, and wish our team all the best as they continue to strive for greatness,” he added.

READ: Pakistan set unwanted record after crushing defeat in first England Test

Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali congratulated star Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem for qualifying for the final of the Paris Olympics Men’s Javelin Throw.

Nadeem, who is the sole hope of Pakistan for a medal in the ongoing games, qualified in the final round of the Javelin throw earlier today with an 86.59-meter throw in his first attempt.

He eased past into the final round, finishing fourth, while India’s Neeraj Chopra topped the charts with a massive 89.34-meter throw.

Meanwhile, Azhar heaped praise on Arshad for delivering a brilliant performance that propelled him into the final round.

Showcasing his trust in Arshad’s skills and abilities, Azhar expressed his hope that the star athlete would bring the gold medal to the country.

“As you all know Arshad Nadeem has qualified for the Paris Olympics’ Javelin Throw Final. As per our expectations, he performed really well,” said Azhar.

“We hope and pray that he will perform even better in the finals and will win the gold medal for Pakistan,” he added.

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Azhar Ali then told Arshad Nadeem that he was proud of him regardless of the outcome in the final.

“Whatever happens in the final Arshad Nadeem, we are proud of you,” Azhar concluded.

Meanwhile, Arshad expressed his determination to make Pakistan “proud” at the ongoing Paris Olympics.

“I want to make Pakistan proud in the Olympic Games,” Nadeem told a local news channel.

“I hope Neeraj Chopra and I will make our respective countries proud. Neeraj Chopra is a good friend, and we will focus on the final round, he added.

“I am optimistic about delivering a good result in the final,” he maintained while thanking fans for the support.”

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Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali made a massive claim about Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad as he termed the duo more talented than the rest of the players.

Ali, however, highlighted that their problem was they could not flourish in international cricket.

“Umar Akmal and Ahmad Shehzad were more talented than the rest of us. They just could not flourish in international cricket like they should have, stated Ali on a local sports channel.

He further blamed the then management for not handling them well. He maintained if Akmal and Shehzad had disciplinary issues then they should have been counselled.

“A bit of the responsibility and blame lies on the management. Did they utilise methods through which Akmal and Shehzad could have gotten better? And if they believed that the two players had other issues then they should have been counselled,” Azhar Ali concluded.

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Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal, who made their respective debuts for Pakistan in 2009, were integral parts of the national team till 2016.

Their last appearance, however, came in the three-match home T20I series against Sri Lanka in 2019.

Shehzad managed modest scores of four and 13 in the opening two T20Is of the home series respectively while Akmal even failed to score a run as he got out on back-to-back golden ducks.

The duo was subsequently dropped from the third T20I of the series and has not represented Pakistan since then.

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KARACHI: Pakistan’s wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed extended best wishes to former Test captain Azhar Ali following his retirement from his international career.

Taking to Twitter, Sarfaraz congratulated Azhar for the latter’s stellar career and wished him the best for the second phase of his career.

“Bhayya mere Congratulations on a stellar career. It was an absolute pleasure to play with you. You were a face to reckon for Pakistan in tough times & you proved it time n time again,” wrote Sarfaraz on the micro-blogging site.

“Best wishes for the next innings of your life. Up and onwards,” he added.

Bhayya mere Congratulations on a stellar career. It was an absolute pleasure to play with you. You were a face to reckon for Pakistan in tough times & you proved it time n time again. Best wishes for the next innings of your life. Up and onwards.@AzharAli_ ❤️ pic.twitter.com/g6xlGCLLrY

— Sarfaraz Ahmed (@SarfarazA_54) December 21, 2022

It is pertinent to mention that Azhar announced his retirement from Test cricket ahead of Karachi Test, His farewell Test, however, came to a disappointing end as he was dismissed for a duck in his final innings.

The right-handed batter accumulated 7,142 runs in 97 matches at 42.26 with the help of 19 centuries and 35 fifties.

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KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Ramiz Raja has praised the retiring veteran batter Azhar Ali for his services to Pakistan Cricket, calling him a selfless player and an inspiration for young cricketers.

Azhar, 37, scored 45 in the first turn of his farewell Test at National Bank Cricket Arena on Saturday.

Pakistan Cricket Board held a brief ceremony to pay homage to the retiring batter during the lunch interval on the opening day of the third test between Pakistan and England.

Chairman Ramiz presented a souvenir to Azhar for his illustrious career spanning over 12 years and lauded the middle-order batter for taking the bold decision of announcing retirement decision at peak of his career.

“Very rarely do you see such cricketers retiring on a high,” he said.  would have liked him to play 100 Test matches but just to let you know Azhar, I also ended up with 198 ODIs. It doesn’t matter, it’s just a number.”

He called Azhar ‘a true ambassador for Pakistan cricket’, saying the presence of such a ‘selfless cricketer’ in the dressing room meant a great deal to our cricket system and team.

Celebrating an illustrious career 👏

PCB chairman Ramiz Raja presents a special souvenir to Azhar Ali, playing his farewell Test.#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/iArZp8XX9V

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 17, 2022

“What you have achieved is truly amazing. You lifted us all and stood up in crunch situations. You are a great example. I want people to play cricket like you, with a smile on their faces and just enjoying the game.” said Ramiz.

Azhar made his Test debut at the age of 25 in England against Australia at Lord’s cricket stadium and scored his maiden Test half-century in only his second match. He scored 34 half-centuries and went past the 100-run mark on 19 instances.

With 7,097 runs in 96 matches at an average of 42.49, Azhar 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).

Azhar, 37, is the only Pakistan batter to score a triple-century in a pink-ball Test – a feat that he achieved against the West Indies in Dubai in 2016. That unbeaten 302 remains his highest score in Test cricket.

Over the course of his 12-year career, Azhar also made 2 double-centuries – 226 against Bangladesh in Dhaka (May 2015) and 205 not out against Australia in Melbourne (December 2016) – and has, at least, one century in Australia, Bangladesh, England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

It is pertinent to mention here that the top order batter retired from One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in 2018 – a year after helping Pakistan win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

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KARACHI: Pakistan top-order batter and former Test captain Azhar Ali has announced his retirement from red-ball cricket.

Azhar Ali, Pakistan’s one of the most successful batters, will hang his boots following the third Test against England, which begins on Saturday.

“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,” the 37-year-old batter said while addressing a news conference at National Bank Cricket Arena.

“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 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,” he added.

In a statement, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja: “Azhar Ali has been one of the most committed and loyal servants of Pakistan cricket. His grit and determination have been an inspiration for many young cricketers and he is a role model for up and coming cricketers.

“I hope to see Azhar continuing to play a role in the development of Pakistan cricket and sharing his vast knowledge and experience with budding cricketers,” PCB chief said.

A LOOK AT HIS TEST CAREER

Azhar made his Test debut at the age of 25 in England against Australia at Lord’s cricket stadium and scored his maiden Test half-century in only his second match. He scored 34 half-centuries and went past the 100-run mark on 19 instances.

With 7,097 runs in 96 matches at an average of 42.49, Azhar 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).

Azhar, 37, is the only Pakistan batter to score a triple-century in a pink-ball Test – a feat that he achieved against the West Indies in Dubai in 2016. That unbeaten 302 remains his highest score in Test cricket.

Over the course of his 12-year career, Azhar also made 2 double-centuries – 226 against Bangladesh in Dhaka (May 2015) and 205 not out against Australia in Melbourne (December 2016) – and has, at least, one century in Australia, Bangladesh, England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

It is pertinent to mention here that the top order batter retired from One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in 2018 – a year after helping Pakistan win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

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