Azhar Ali keen to perform in the 50-overs format
Azhar Ali, the top-order batsman, is keen to cement his place in the 50-overs format and claims that the Sri Lankan tour boosted his confidence.
Debuting against England in 2010, the right-handed batsman made a mark at the ultimate level of the game and became a regular in the Test team.
The stylish batsman has played 24 Tests on the trot, scoring more than 18 hundred runs at a brilliant average of 45.27 runs per innings, with the help of four hundreds and 13 half-centuries.
Azhar is not too sure about his credentials in the T20 format but thinks that he can do a job for the country in ODIs.
"I am not sure about T20 cricket but I recently played an ODI series against Sri Lanka and was the best batsman. I won't say that I have settled in limited-overs cricket but that performance was a confidence booster," the batsman said.
Some critics raise question marks about the budding batsman’s ability to score at a brisk rate; however, Azhar thinks that due to the new regulations in the 50-overs format, his solid technique and temperament can be an asset for Pakistan.
"Critics might point out that my strike rate doesn't match this form of the game but one-day cricket has changed with the new ball from both sides and the Powerplays," the 27-year-old cricketer mentioned. "You need to have a couple of batsmen in the side who can play sensibly to survive and pull the team along to play the 50 overs."
PCN Staff Editor
