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Pakistan’s Azhar Ali announces retirement from Test cricket

Pakistan's Azhar Ali bids farwell to Test cricket

The upcoming third and final Test of the ongoing series between Pakistan and England will be the last match of top-order batter Azhar Ali, the cricketer announced during a press meet ahead of the match.

Pakistan have lost both the Tests against Ben Stokes & Co. and will be looking to stop the English team from whitewashing them. The third Test will start on Saturday at the National Stadium in Karachi.

As of now, Azhar – regarded as one of the most successful batters in Pakistan – has 7,097 runs to his name in 96 matches at an average of 42.49, including 19 hundreds and 35 half-centuries. He is the fifth leading run-getter for his country in the longest format and only behind legends such as Younis Khan (10,099), Javed Miandad (8,832), Inzamam-ul-Haq (8,829) and Mohammad Yousuf (7,530).

“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. 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,” said Azhar in a statement released by PCB.

“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,” added Azhar.

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