Azhar Ali started his cricketing life as a leg spinner who batted in the lower/middle order. However as his leg spin became less and less utilised at KRL, Azhar had to work even harder on his batting to retain his spot in the KRL starting eleven and gradually he was moved up the order with a decent amount of success. His confidence with the bat grew in the top order and whilst his leg spin became an afterthought, his batting developed and progressed. Consistency in his batting became more apparent and this brought recognition with a couple of “A” tours, including one to Australia.

If domestic records are the be-all and end-all of international selection then Azhar may never have got his chance. Azhar’s first class batting average hovered around the 30 mark for many years and it was only down to the foresight of the selectors in 2010 that he was given his international chance in the absence ofthe experienced duo of Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf - and Azhar has not looked back since.

Azhar scored his first Test fifty at Headingley while Pakistan were chasing 180 against Australia. He then scored nine more fifties before registering his maiden Test hundred. Displaying immense temperament and application, he scored a hundred against England in a low-scoring game in Dubai in 2011-12. He finished as the only batsman from either side to average more than 50 in the series, thereby cementing his number three spot in the Test side. Twice Azhar has passed the 150 mark, on both occasions reaching 157, once against England in Dubai in February and the other occasion in Colombo against Sri Lanka.

Azhar had a poor 2013 but bounced back into form in January 2014 by scoring a scintillating century on the last day to the Sharjah test against Sri Lanka as Pakistan won the test to draw the series 1-1 after a thrilling chase.

Azhar continued his form throughout the year and scored back to back centuries in the series against Australia in UAE as Pakistan swept the series 3-0. He was in good touch in the New Zealand series that followed and scored two half centuries.
Azhar Ali has been seen as a test specialist and hence was not selected for the World Cup 2015 squad. However after World Cup campaign, Azhar was surprisingly appointed the ODI captain on outgoing captain Misbah-ul-Haq's recommendation. Despite questions over his ability to adapt to the pace of modern ODI cricket, Azhar has had a dream start to his ODI captaincy, and has managed to score 2 centuries and 2 half centuries at a strike rate in excess of 85 in the six matches he has captained in ODIs so far.

Azhar will be hoping to continue his form in both Tests and ODIs and is certain to become the mainstay of Pakistan's batting especially after Misbah and Younis Khan retire.

[Last updated on: 19th June 2015]