Azhar Ali
Azhar Ali: A Brief Biography Of A Cricketer
Azhar Ali – a famous Pakistani right-handed batter who played one of the toughest and most demanding roles in cricket: the No. 3 position. Switching between clubs and franchises, Azhar remained a rock-solid pillar of the Pakistan national team from 2010 right up until the end of his international career in December 2022. At one stage, he even took charge of the side as captain, carrying the responsibility on his shoulders during a challenging period.
Born on February 19, 1985, in Lahore, Azhar Ali grew up in a conservative, religious household in Pakistan’s Punjab province. His upbringing was modest and firmly middle class, far removed from the privileges of elite sports schools or famous cricketing bloodlines. There were no shortcuts available to him – every step of his career had to be earned the hard way.
Azhar Ali: Sporting Career
Unlike many top-order batters, Azhar did not begin his journey with the bat. In his early years, he was primarily focused on bowling, and remarkably, he made his first-class debut at the age of just 16. Even then, his path forward was uncertain and demanded persistence rather than instant recognition.
A turning point came in 2004, when Azhar relocated to Scotland. There, he joined Huntly Cricket Club, and it was during this overseas chapter that his batting potential truly began to blossom. Competing in unfamiliar conditions forced him to refine his technique and temperament. After spending two formative years in the UK, he returned to Pakistan a more complete and confident cricketer.
Back home, Azhar signed with Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), where he continued to grind through domestic cricket. Despite consistent performances, national recognition did not come quickly. Only after three additional seasons of hard work did the selectors finally offer him a chance at the highest level. In July 2010, he made his Test debut for Pakistan against Australia.
That debut series was difficult. Pakistan struggled as a team, and Azhar’s personal returns were modest. However, the series marked the beginning of a long international career that would span more than a decade and include both triumphs and setbacks.
Leadership responsibilities arrived in 2015, when Azhar was appointed captain of Pakistan’s ODI side. Unfortunately, this period proved challenging. Results went against the team, and Pakistan slipped to a historic 9th place in the ODI rankings. Qualification for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy was achieved only narrowly. Under his captaincy, Pakistan managed 12 wins against 18 defeats, and amid growing pressure, Azhar stepped down from the role in February 2017.
While his leadership record was mixed, it never overshadowed his value as a batter. In fact, one of his most iconic moments came during this same era. In October 2016, Azhar produced a historic innings against the West Indies, becoming the first player ever to score more than 300 runs in a single day-night Test match. This extraordinary feat remained unmatched until November 2019.
Azhar’s importance to Pakistan was further underlined in 2017, when he played a key role in the team’s victorious ICC Champions Trophy campaign. His 76-run knock in the semi-final and 59 in the final were instrumental in securing the title and remain among the most valuable innings of his career.
In 2018, Azhar announced his retirement from ODI cricket, choosing to focus on the longer format. Four years later, he officially retired from Test cricket, bringing an end to a distinguished international career built on patience, resilience, and consistency rather than flash or hype.
At the domestic and club level, Azhar Ali was a cornerstone player for several leading teams, earning a reputation as a dependable run-scorer and a professional presence in every dressing room he represented.
As for his club career, Azhar became a backbone player for a number of top teams, including:
- Khan Research Laboratories
- Lahore Eagles
- Lahore Lions
- Lahore Qalandars
- Baluchistan
- Somerset
- Central Punjab
- Worcestershire
- Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited
In recent years, Azhar has shifted his focus toward working with the Pakistan Cricket Board. In particular, he has been appointed to various roles related to player selection and the development of youth cricket, helping shape the next generation.
Several Personal Achievements and Azhar Ali records
Azhar Ali keeps his private life largely out of the public eye, and only a handful of details are known beyond the cricketing world. He is married and has three children, one of whom has followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle, Ashraf Ali, who is also a professional cricketer. To wrap things up, here are some notable facts about Azhar Ali, his achievements, and his impressive career statistics:
- Azhar Ali is one of only five Pakistani batters to score 1,000 Test runs in a single calendar year;
- He is also the only Pakistani batter to have scored more than 200 runs in Test matches played in Australia;
- Azhar’s father, Muhammad Rafiq, won a gold medal at the age of 76 by completing a half marathon in Sheikhupura in 2021.
Azhar Ali runs a blog on Instagram, where he mostly shares personal photos along with images and videos from training sessions. He is also active on Twitter (X) under the handle @AzharAli, where he has 2.2 million followers. There, he frequently weighs in on current events, voices his opinions, and shares his thoughts with fans.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Bat Avg | Top Score | Balls bowled | Wickets | Bowl Avg | Best Bowl | Catches |
| Test | 97 | 7 142 | 42.26 | 302 | 867 | 8 | 77.62 | 2/35 | 72 |
| ODI | 53 | 1 845 | 36.90 | 102 | 258 | 4 | 65.00 | 2/26 | 21 |
| T20s | 49 | 985 | 21.88 | 72 | 941 | 15 | 18.86 | 3/10 | – |
| List A | 181 | 6 674 | 46.34 | 132 | 2538 | 69 | 33.79 | 5/23 | – |
| FC | 262 | 16 327 | 39.05 | 302 | 3698 | 51 | 46.00 | 4/34 | – |
