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“Zimbabwe won’t be pushovers as they will have the advantage of home conditions" : Azhar Ali

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“Zimbabwe won’t be pushovers as they will have the advantage of home conditions" : Azhar Ali

KARACHI : Former ODI skipper Azhar Ali has admitted he has not been performing at the required level of late but vowed to make a comeback after being dropped for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe.

Azhar — who has featured in 65 Tests and 53 ODIs for Pakistan —admitted that his form was not up to the mark in the recently concluded tour of Ireland, England and Scotland, and accepted the selection committee’s decision to drop him from the side.

The 33-year-old veteran refused to feel sorry for himself though and has promised to put in the hard yards in a bid to regain his place as he aims to represent Pakistan for ‘many years to come’.

“Selectors must have named a squad bearing in mind the requirements of the team,” said Azhar, according to the Daily Express. “I’m not unhappy with the decision and will continue working towards making a comeback. Pakistan have given me everything and that keeps me motivated to serve the country for many years to come.”

Azhar revealed he will be working on his form and fitness levels. “I will join the summer camp to improve my fitness and eradicate some of the weaknesses in my game.”

Azhar warned his teammates of complacency and said that Zimbabwe will be a tough team to beat in home conditions.

However, he is hopeful that Pakistan will win both the T20I triangular series, which also features world champions Australia, and the five-match ODI series against the hosts.

“Zimbabwe won’t be pushovers as they will have the advantage of home conditions,” he said. “Pakistan are in good form but they will have to execute their game plans properly if they are to succeed.”

The Men in Green will start their tour of Zimbabwe from July 1, which will consist of a T20I tri-series with the hosts and Australia as well as a five-match ODI series against Zimbabwe.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1741548/7-dropped-azhar-admits-form-poor/
 
I am surprised that he is 33 - I thought he was younger seeing as he has actually achieved very little. He seems like one of those hard-working players with limited talent (as distinct from someone like Umar Akmal who has talent but no work ethic). Given his age and current form, I do not see him featuring again for Pakistan in white ball cricket.
 
He is one of the very few sensible good man in Pakistan cricket team, PPers should support him. I do think Pakistan will need him in 2019 world cup.
 
I am surprised that he is 33 - I thought he was younger seeing as he has actually achieved very little. He seems like one of those hard-working players with limited talent (as distinct from someone like Umar Akmal who has talent but no work ethic). Given his age and current form, I do not see him featuring again for Pakistan in white ball cricket.

He has actually achieved quite a bit for Pakistan and it is not sensible to judge any player by the last series they played. He's in poor form no doubt but inshallah he'll recover that soon. He was, for example, very important to our Champions Trophy triumph a year ago, regularly putting up big opening stands with Fakhar. One hopes Imam-ul-haq can do something similar in next year's world cup, but he is even now unproven.
 
Not really need in the ODI team anyways, so dropping him is not a massive deal from ODI sqaud.
 
Not really need in the ODI team anyways, so dropping him is not a massive deal from ODI sqaud.

Amjid, did you not see what he did to India in the CT final ? or the first game of that tournament, LOI's may not come naturally to him but he is tough cookie and a big game player, he is our CR7 across all forms. We won the first Test in England this summer largely due to his impactful 50 at the top of the order as well, there is no one better in Pakistan who can see off the new ball better then him and no one close to achieving what he did as a batsman down under. The knives have been out the moment he has failed but the man has been incredibly consistent and deserves to be in our big plans with huge series coming up especially in the Test World Cup.
 
Amjid, did you not see what he did to India in the CT final ? or the first game of that tournament, LOI's may not come naturally to him but he is tough cookie and a big game player, he is our CR7 across all forms. We won the first Test in England this summer largely due to his impactful 50 at the top of the order as well, there is no one better in Pakistan who can see off the new ball better then him and no one close to achieving what he did as a batsman down under. The knives have been out the moment he has failed but the man has been incredibly consistent and deserves to be in our big plans with huge series coming up especially in the Test World Cup.

CR7 of our cricket? What the hell. How could you compare a GOAT to an above average player. First your hafeez thread and now this. Sigh. I thought you were a quality poster.

Azhar has no place in our ODI squad. That final innings was above average at best and thats the max Azhar Ali can give you in his flukey days in LOI cricket.

He is just a test batsman and even on that he is lacking nowadays.
 
I hope Azhar Ali remains permanently dropped. He is the last remanant of the Misbah era.
 
Amjid, did you not see what he did to India in the CT final ? or the first game of that tournament, LOI's may not come naturally to him but he is tough cookie and a big game player, he is our CR7 across all forms. We won the first Test in England this summer largely due to his impactful 50 at the top of the order as well, there is no one better in Pakistan who can see off the new ball better then him and no one close to achieving what he did as a batsman down under. The knives have been out the moment he has failed but the man has been incredibly consistent and deserves to be in our big plans with huge series coming up especially in the Test World Cup.

Am sure he will come good again in Test cricket and will return to the side, i just cant see a need for him in ODI side in short term or longterm. His games not suited to ODI format despite odd good performance.
 
Hopefully we have seen the last of him in ODI's. I know he had a good CT and wanted him to stay after that but I said there and then he won't be a long term replacement. If only Sharjeel wasn't banned...
 
Inzi will bring Azhar for Asia Cup in the name of experience!!!!
 
I think it would be wise if he stuck to Test. He should just stick to his best format.
 
He is finished an international cricketer. He played his part for 8 years, but now it is time to move on. We have been the best he has to offer, which unfortunately was not good enough. However, I think he is going to last for another 20-25 Tests.

The realization that his best days are behind is a reality that will sink in slowly, proactive decision-making is not our cup of tea.
 
Love this guy's attitude, even with his limitations, he is always keen on improving and learning and it shows on the field. He is very sensible on the mic as well. The only thing that I didn't like about him was him and Hafeez making a lot of fuss over Amir's comeback.
 
One thing about Azhar I like is he's very good at explaining why things are wrong/why he's been dropped and is rather self-deprecating.

If this was Akmal/Shehzad it'd be a conspiracy theory, or the coaches obviously missed the dozen tweets by fanb@ys on twitter applauding their genius'.
 
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Not surprised to see people still clinging onto the fluke innings in the Champions Trophy Final to defend his ODI career. Apart from that innings, he has been diabolical against quality opposition.
 
Umar Akmal and Ahmad Shahzad need to look at him as an example.

This guy may not be a good one day cricketer but he’s got a great attitude.
 
He's a fine odi player. Plays calculatively. Players like him are needed
 
Amjid, did you not see what he did to India in the CT final ? or the first game of that tournament, LOI's may not come naturally to him but he is tough cookie and a big game player, he is our CR7 across all forms. We won the first Test in England this summer largely due to his impactful 50 at the top of the order as well, there is no one better in Pakistan who can see off the new ball better then him and no one close to achieving what he did as a batsman down under. The knives have been out the moment he has failed but the man has been incredibly consistent and deserves to be in our big plans with huge series coming up especially in the Test World Cup.
He was lucky in final wasn't comfortable at all
 
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