- Joined
- Apr 13, 2025
- Runs
- 3,573
Pakistan cricket has been hit with a major setback as former captain Azhar Ali has reportedly walked away from all his key roles in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) amid the T20I Tri-Nation series at home against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Azhar Ali had joined the Pakistan selection committee in October 2024, working alongside the former ICC umpire Aleem Dar, former pacer Aqib Javed, and Asad Shafiq.
They had made headlines immediately by taking tough decisions, removing big names like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah from the last two tests of the series against England.
Azhar Ali shocks Pakistan Cricket as he quits all PCB roles
The gamble paid off, as Pakistan turned things around and clinched the Test series 2–1 at home. But now, in a surprise development, Azhar has reportedly stepped down from his PCB responsibilities.
As reported by Geo News, Azhar Ali resigned as a member of the national men’s selection committee and as the Head of Youth Development on Tuesday (November 18). His exit comes at a time when the board has been focusing heavily on rebuilding its long-term player pathway.
While the PCB has not released an official statement, the timing of Azhar’s exit has raised eyebrows. Many believe Azhar’s decision is linked to former captain Sarfraz Ahmed’s recent rise within the PCB.
Sarfraz has been handed major responsibilities, taking charge of both the Pakistan Shaheens and the Under-19 setup, and this move created a significant rift within the board.
Azhar Ali's career in numbers
Notably, Azhar was one of the most successful and respected figures in Tests. From 2010 to 2022, he was one of the team’s most reliable batters, playing 97 Tests and 53 ODIs. Azhar also led the side in nine Tests and 31 ODIs and played a key role in their ICC Champions Trophy victory in 2017.
With 7,097 test runs at an average of 42.49, Azhar is Pakistan’s fifth-highest run-scorer, behind only Younis Khan, Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Yousuf. He scored 19 centuries and 34 half-centuries and made his first Test fifty just two matches after debuting at Lord’s in 2010.
Azhar Ali had joined the Pakistan selection committee in October 2024, working alongside the former ICC umpire Aleem Dar, former pacer Aqib Javed, and Asad Shafiq.
They had made headlines immediately by taking tough decisions, removing big names like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah from the last two tests of the series against England.
Azhar Ali shocks Pakistan Cricket as he quits all PCB roles
The gamble paid off, as Pakistan turned things around and clinched the Test series 2–1 at home. But now, in a surprise development, Azhar has reportedly stepped down from his PCB responsibilities.
As reported by Geo News, Azhar Ali resigned as a member of the national men’s selection committee and as the Head of Youth Development on Tuesday (November 18). His exit comes at a time when the board has been focusing heavily on rebuilding its long-term player pathway.
While the PCB has not released an official statement, the timing of Azhar’s exit has raised eyebrows. Many believe Azhar’s decision is linked to former captain Sarfraz Ahmed’s recent rise within the PCB.
Sarfraz has been handed major responsibilities, taking charge of both the Pakistan Shaheens and the Under-19 setup, and this move created a significant rift within the board.
Azhar Ali's career in numbers
Notably, Azhar was one of the most successful and respected figures in Tests. From 2010 to 2022, he was one of the team’s most reliable batters, playing 97 Tests and 53 ODIs. Azhar also led the side in nine Tests and 31 ODIs and played a key role in their ICC Champions Trophy victory in 2017.
With 7,097 test runs at an average of 42.49, Azhar is Pakistan’s fifth-highest run-scorer, behind only Younis Khan, Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Yousuf. He scored 19 centuries and 34 half-centuries and made his first Test fifty just two matches after debuting at Lord’s in 2010.
