Pakistan batter and former captain Azhar Ali announced his retirement from international Test cricket on Friday and said that Pakistan vs. England’s Test match in Karachi will be his last match for the country.
Azhar during a news conference in Karachi said that “it was an honour for him to represent Pakistan, there is a time for everything. Tomorrow will be the final Test of my career.”
The former captain acknowledged that he was thankful for many people during his cricketing journey
“I want to specifically thank my family for their efforts, without which I would not be where I am today. My pillars of support have always been my parents, my wife, my siblings, and my kids,” Azhar remarked.
The batsman claimed to have a “solid bond” and be fortunate to share a dressing room with some of cricket’s greatest players. “By calling these people my friends, I feel much richer.”
According to the captain, he is leaving international cricket “as a cricketer who checked most of the goals” he had set for himself.
Pakistan Cricket Board acknowledged Azhar Ali for his services to Pakistan cricket.
The 37-year-old made his Test debut against Australia in England in 2010 at Lord’s and notched his first Test half-century in his third game.
He went on to record 34 additional half-centuries and surpass the 100-run milestone 19 times.
Azhar, regarded as one of the best batters in the country, averaged 42.49 runs per match while scoring 7,097 runs in 96 games.
He ranks after Younis Khan, Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Yousuf as Pakistan’s fifth-highest Test run scorer.
Azhar’s accomplishments include being the only Pakistani batter to register a triple-century in a Test played with the pink ball.
He led Pakistan in nine Test matches during two separate terms between 2016 and 2020.
The player, who assisted Pakistan in winning the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, has already announced his retirement from One-Day Internationals in 2018.
