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Saturday April 27, 2024

PCB likely to give Azhar Ali key role

It is expected that Azhar Ali might get the responsibility of selection committee or high-performance centre

By Faizan Lakhani
March 08, 2024
Former Test cricketer Azhar Ali. — AFP/File
Former Test cricketer Azhar Ali. — AFP/File 

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to appoint former team captain and Test cricketer Azhar Ali to an important position, Geo News reported Friday citing sources. 

Azhar, 39, is expected to be given the responsibility of the selection committee or high-performance centre of the cricketing body, according to the sources. 

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is in favour of taking benefit from the former cricketer's experience.

The batter announced retirement from Test cricket in 2022 after playing his last series against England.

The 37-year-old made his debut in 2010 in England against Australia at Lord’s and scored his maiden Test half-century in only his second match.

He scored 34 more half-centuries and went past the 100-run mark on 19 instances.

Azhar, one of the most successful batters in the country, scored 7,097 runs in 96 matches at an average of 42.49.

Among his accolades, Azhar is the only Pakistan batter to score a triple-century in a pink-ball Test. He had achieved the feat against the West Indies at Dubai in 2016. That unbeaten 302 remains his highest score in Test cricket.

Azhar captained Pakistan in nine Tests in two separate tenures from 2016 to 2020.

The batter had also already retired from One-Day Internationals in 2018 – a year after helping Pakistan win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

Rehan-ul-Haq likely to become team manager

Meanwhile, former team manager, Rehan-ul-Haq, is also expected to hold the position once again, added the sources.

Rehan-ul-Haq was appointed as the team manager under Najam Sethi's chairmanship.

"Rehan-ul-Haq will soon take over his duties in the Pakistan team," claimed the sources.