The Test career of one of Pakistan’s greatest ever players has ended abruptly in heartbreak, with Azhar Ali bowled without scoring thanks to a stunning Jack Leach delivery.
Azhar last week confirmed he would retire from international cricket after the third and final Test against England in Karachi.
After a quintessentially patient knock of 45 in the first innings, Azhar strode to the wicket on the third day for his final Test innings.
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Azhar received a warm round of applause from the Karachi crowd and handshakes from England opponents Monday before taking guard with his side 1-53.
But the right-hander’s 180th and final Test innings lasted just four balls, bowled by Leach for a duck thanks to a full delivery that spun sharply and hit the top of off-stump.
Leach celebrated briefly but quickly ran to Azhar to congratulate him on his career, with other England players following soon afterwards.
As Azhar walked off a Test arena as a batter for the final time, Pakistan players emerged from the dressing room and formed a guard of honour with bats on the field.
“He’s been a phenomenal ambassador for Pakistan cricket and a lovely human being,” former Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz said.
“Obviously it’s not the way you want to go out on your final Test, but the scenes are very emotional and he can be very proud of what he achieved.”
Former superstar bowler Waqar Younis added: “It doesn’t matter if he got runs in this innings or not, he can hold his head high the way he has played for Pakistan with a lot of honour. He’s given everything to the country for all these years. Superb player.”
The 37-year-old former captain was dropped from the second Test — the second time in six months that he was left out of the team — signalling the end was near.
“Everything must come to an end, so on a good note I feel — and my heart and mind understands — that this is the right time to decide that the Karachi Test will be my last for Pakistan,” an emotional Azhar told a press conference last week.
“It was an honour to not only play for Pakistan, but also captain the country, and I am going with fond memories.”
Azhar finishes with 7142 Test runs — the fifth-most by a Pakistan cricketer — and 19 centuries from 97 matches.
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He was left out of the second Test, having likewise been dropped from the second Test against Sri Lanka at Galle in July this year. But Azhar denied he had been pushed out.
“It’s solely my decision,” he said.
“No one told me to do this.”
Azhar’s Test career — beginning at Lord’s in 2010 — was marked by Pakistan’s isolation from international cricket, which deprived him of playing any of his first 75 matches on home grounds.
Pakistan was forced to play its matches at neutral venues in the aftermath of terror attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009.
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When Test cricket returned to Pakistan in December 2019, Azhar hit a century in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Karachi.
“It was massive to play at home and score that hundred,” said Azhar.
“I genuinely thought a few years back that I would not be able to play a Test at home.”
Azhar also played 53 ODIs for Pakistan, 31 as captain, and led the country in nine Tests.
He described his 302 not out against the West Indies in Dubai six years ago as one of his biggest achievements — the first triple hundred in a day-night Test.
He was also part of Pakistan’s triumphant Champions Trophy squad in 2017.
— with AFP
