Azhar Ali

Azhar Ali (born 19 February 1985) is a Pakistani former international cricketer.

He is former captain of ODI and test side of Pakistan national team.

He made his first-class debut in 2002, at the age of 16, as a leg spinner.

In his early days, he used to bat at number 9, but was later elevated to number 8 when started playing for Khan Research Laboratories.

In 2004, at the age of 19, he shifted to Scotland and started playing cricket for Huntly Cricket Club.

During the period at Huntly, he developed his skills as a batsman and used to open the batting for the club.

He played in Scotland between 2004 and 2007.

After moving back to Pakistan, he started playing regularly for Khan Research Laboratories, and scored 503 runs at the batting average of 50.25 in 2007–2008 season.

Later, in 2008–2009 season, he scored 788 runs at the average of 35 with performances such as 99 and 25 in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final.

Because of his performances, he was selected in Pakistan A cricket team for the tours of Australia and Sri Lanka.

Ali made his Test debut for Pakistan against Australia in the first Test at Lord's in July 2010.

In 2010, he moved back to Scotland again in order play for Huntly club.

At the same time, Pakistan cricket team were scheduled to tour England and he was included in the Test squad.

Following the exclusion of middle-order stalwarts Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf from the Pakistani team in 2010, Ali was drafted into the lineup for the Test series against Australia and England in July 2010.

He made his debut against Australia in July, along with Umar Amin; Ali scored 17 runs in his debut innings before he was caught behind by Tim Paine.

In the second innings, he scored 42 as Pakistan lost the match by 150 runs.

In the second Test match against Australia, he scored 30 runs in the first innings, followed by his maiden half century in the second as Pakistan recorded their first Test victory over the Australians in fifteen years.

He struggled in the first two Tests against England, recording a 32-ball duck during the second match as Pakistan were bundled out for 72.

Following these disastrous collapses Mohammad Yousuf was recalled to the squad and Amin lost his place, but Ali was given another opportunity and found his feet in the third Test, scoring an unbeaten 92.

An agile right-hand batter and a part-time leg-break bowler, Ali became the first ever centurion, double Centurion as well as triple centurion in a Day and Night Test Match, when he scored 302 against West Indies in October 2016.

In 2016, Ali was appointed captain of Lahore Qalandars in the first edition of Pakistan Super League.

He played 7 matches and scored 180 runs in the Tournament.

Ali was a major contributor to helping his country win the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, where in the final, he scored 59 runs.

Domestically, he has played for Khan Research Laboratories, Lahore, Lahore Eagles, Lahore Lions, Lahore Qalandars, Pakistan A and Huntly (Scotland) during his career.

He was the captain of Lahore Qalandars in the first edition of the Pakistan Super League.

In August 2018, he was one of thirty-three players to be awarded a central contract for the 2018–19 season by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

On 1 November 2018, he announced his retirement from One Day International cricket.

On 16 December 2022, he announced that he would retire from Test cricket following the completion of the home Test series against England.

His father Muhammad Rafiq is also an athlete, having participated in different marathons, in 2021 winning a gold medal in Sheikhupura's 21 KM marathon race at the age of 76.

On 16 July 2018, Ali signed for Somerset for the final seven matches of the County Championship season, replacing the injured Matt Renshaw.

Ali subsequently scored a century in his debut match for Somerset, against Worcestershire.

He held the record for the highest ever individual score in an innings of a day/night Test match which was later surpassed by David Warner in November 2019 who scored unbeaten 335.

In September 2019, he was named in Central Punjab's squad for the 2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy tournament.

In December 2020, he launched a cricket academy located in Lahore's Valancia Town.

His son Ibtisam Azhar is a cricketer as well, playing as an all-rounder.

Ali started playing cricket primarily as a bowler when he was aged 13.

In August 2020, he was retained in Central Punjab's squad for the 2020–21 domestic season.

In February 2022, he was signed by Worcestershire as Matthew Wade replacement for 2022 county championship.

In December 2023, he was named in Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited's squad for the 2023–24 President's Trophy.

On 4 January 2024, he scored his 50th century in first-class cricket against Khan Research Laboratories.