Azhar Ali in line to get ‘key role’ at PCB

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali is likely to get a key role at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), sources told Geo News Wednesday.

The 38-year-old will have a pivotal role at the National Cricket Academy, as per sources. The former captain is reportedly being considered for the position of director at the esteemed academy, with discussions currently underway between Ali and PCB officials.

The sources added that a final decision regarding Ali's potential appointment is to be made by this month's end.

The former captain is currently involved in domestic cricket where he is playing for SNGPL in the President Trophy. He also took part in England's county cricket for Worcestershire in 2023.

He had announced his retirement from Test cricket on December 16, 2022, following the completion of the home Test series against England.

In an exclusive interview with Geo News in Karachi earlier this week, Ali talked about Pakistan's Test performances in Australia and highlighted the root cause of the drought.

“There were matches, where batters had scored good runs but our bowlers were unable to bowl Australia out in those matches, it has been so long that Pakistani bowlers had bowled Australia out twice in a match, and this is where the problem is,” he said.

There are only two such incidents where Pakistani bowlers have taken 20 wickets against Australia in Australia – one in 1995 and the other in 2010.

“People would say that Pakistan was bowled out for 89 in Perth but I think by the time Pakistan’s inning started, the wicket had become very difficult with an uneven bounce, and knowing Australia’s attack, I think that collapse was not unexpected,” he said.

The former captain said that Pakistan can still make a comeback in the series but for that bowler will have to take the larger share of responsibility.

He highlighted the importance of getting Australia out under 300 if Pakistan wants to beat Australia.

“I have confidence that Pakistani batters can post scores around 450, 475 but it is important for Pakistan that the bowlers are able to bowl out Australia for not a bigger total,” he said.