‘Wonderful ambassador’ Azhar Ali lauded after retirement from Test cricket

Pakistan veteran batter Azhar Ali was lauded after he announced his retirement from Test cricket.

The third Test against England, which begins tomorrow, will be Azhar’s last in the longest format of the game. He was dropped from the side for the second Test of the series in Multan.

Azhar was one of Pakistan's most successful batters, with 7,097 runs in 96 matches at an average of 42.49.

The right-hander is Pakistan’s fifth leading Test run-getter behind Younis Khan (10,099), Javed Miandad (8,832), Inzamam-ul-Haq (8,829) and Mohammad Yousuf (7,530).

In 2010, Azhar, as a 25-year-old, made his Test debut in England against Australia at Lord’s and scored his maiden Test half-century in only his second match.

“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,” Azhar was quoted as saying in a press release by the PCB.