Azhar Ali

Azhar Ali is a former international cricketer from Pakistan who represented his country in both Test and One Day International formats. He served as the captain for the national ODI and Test teams. Currently, he serves as a member of the Men's National Selection Committee for the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Early life and education

Born on 19 February 1985 in Lahore, Ali began his cricketing journey as a bowler when he was 13 years old. He made his first-class debut in 2002 at the age of 16 while playing as a leg spinner. Although he initially batted at number 9, he moved to the number 8 position after joining Khan Research Laboratories.

In 2004, Ali relocated to Scotland at age 19 to play for the Huntly Cricket Club. He remained in Scotland until 2007, during which time he transitioned into an opening batsman. This period allowed him to develop the batting skills that would later define his professional career.

Career

Ali returned to Pakistan and established himself domestically by scoring 503 runs at an average of 50.25 during the 2007–2008 season. His subsequent performance in the 2008–2009 season included 788 runs and a notable 99 in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final. These achievements led to his selection for the Pakistan A team for tours in Australia and Sri Lanka.

His international Test debut occurred in July 2010 against Australia at Lord's. While he struggled during the initial matches against England, he found success in the third Test by scoring an unbeaten 92. He maintained consistent form through 2011 and 2012, eventually entering the Top-10 of the ICC Test Rankings after scoring 157 in a match against Sri Lanka.

In October 2016, Ali achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player to score a century, a double century, and a triple century in a Day and Night Test Match. He recorded a score of 302 against the West Indies during this fixture. This performance set a record for the highest individual score in a day/night Test until David Warner scored 335 in November 2019.

Ali contributed significantly to Pakistan's victory in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, where he scored 59 runs in the final against India. Following the retirement of Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan Cricket Board appointed Ali as the ODI captain. He announced his retirement from One Day International cricket on 1 November 2018. Later, on 16 December 2022, he retired from Test cricket after completing a home series against England.

His domestic and county career included stints with several organizations. He captained the Lahore Qalandars during the first edition of the Pakistan Super League in 2016. Additionally, he played for Somerset in 2018 and Worcestershire in 2022. On 4 January 2024, he reached a milestone by scoring his 50th first-class century against Khan Research Laboratories.

Personal life

The father of Azhar Ali is Muhammad Rafiq, an athlete who won a gold medal in a 21 km marathon race in Sheikhupura at the age of 76. Ali's son, Ibtisam Azhar, is also a cricketer who plays as an all-rounder. In December 2020, Ali opened a cricket academy located in Valencia Town, Lahore.

Awards and recognition

In August 2018, the Pakistan Cricket Board awarded Ali one of 33 central contracts for the 2018–19 season. He also earned recognition for his batting prowess by becoming the second Pakistani player to carry his bat in an ODI, following Saeed Anwar.