Azhar Ali has said that he will no longer play Test cricket

• 37-year-old scored 7,097 runs in 96 matches at an average of 42.49.
• Azhar is the only Pakistani batsman to ever hit a triple century in a pink-ball Test.
• Azhar Ali has announced his retirement from international cricket.

Azhar Ali, Pakistan’s experienced batsman, announced his retirement from Test cricket on Friday. Tomorrow’s third Test against England will be Azhar’s final appearance in the longest format of the game. He didn’t make the trip to Multan for the second test of the series because of this.

Azhar was a prolific batsman in Pakistan, scoring 7,097 runs in 96 matches at an average of 42.49.

After Younis Khan (10,099), Javed Miandad (8,832), Inzamam-ul-Haq (8,829), and Mohammad Yousuf (8,829), the right-hander is Pakistan’s sixth best Test run-scorer (7,530).

Azhar, then 25, made his Test debut in England against Australia at Lord’s in 2010 and got his first Test half-century in only his second match.

Over the course of his career, he scored 35 half-centuries and went over 100 runs 19 times.

The 37-year-old Azhar is the only Pakistani batsman to ever hit a triple century in a pink-ball Test, which he did in 2016 against the West Indies in Dubai. That undefeated 302 is still his highest Test score.

In addition, from 2016 to 2020, the 37-year-old led Pakistan in nine Tests.

Azhar resigned from One-Day Internationals in 2018, a year after assisting Pakistan in winning the ICC Champions Trophy. Azhar had 50 points against India, 9 points against South Africa, 34 points against Sri Lanka, 76 points against England in the semi-finals, and 59 points against South Africa in that event (v India in final).

“It has been a great honour and privilege for me to represent my country at the highest level. “Deciding when to call it a day is always difficult, but after much thought, I realised that this is the appropriate time for me to retire from Test cricket,” Azhar was quoted as saying in a news release by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

“There are many people who I am grateful to throughout this tough, yet lovely journey. I’d like to specifically thank my family, without whose sacrifices I would not be where I am now. My parents, wife, siblings, and children have always been my rock.

“I have been lucky to share dressing room with some of the most great cricketers with whom I share a deep bond. I feel much more fortunate to call these people my friends. I was also fortunate to have played for some fantastic instructors, for whom I will be eternally grateful.

“I retire from international cricket as a fulfilled cricketer who checked most of the targets he had set for himself. Few cricketers go on to captain their countries, so being able to represent Pakistan is a source of tremendous satisfaction for me. I enjoyed the loveliest experiences of my life, from being a kid who started as a leg-spinner to becoming a mainstay in the Test batting line-up.”

Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja praised Azhar for his stellar career.

“Azhar Ali has been one of Pakistan cricket’s most dedicated and faithful servants. “His courage and dedication have inspired many young players, and he is a role model for aspiring cricketers,” Raja said.

“While it is regrettable that Pakistan will not have a player of his expertise in the dressing room to draw upon, it just represents the circle of life. I wish to see Azhar continue to play a part in Pakistan cricket development and share his enormous knowledge and expertise with aspiring cricketers.”

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