Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali retires from Test cricket after match against England in Karachi | Cricket news

Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali will retire from Test cricket after the third and final match of the series against England.

The 37-year-old announced the news at a pre-match press conference on Friday, and Saturday’s match in Karachi will be his 96th and final Test for his country.

Azhar has scored 7,097 Test runs at an average of 42.49 with 19 centuries and 35 fifties and is Pakistan’s fifth highest run-scorer in this format, trailing only Younis Khan (10,099), Javed Miandad (8,832) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (8,829) and Mohammad Yousuf (7,530).

Saturday, December 17 at 4:30

“This is my last game for Pakistan. I have a lot of good memories to cherish,” said the right-hander, former Pakistan captain. “This day comes for everyone. I’m happy with my time and the friends I’ve made.

“It has been a great honor and privilege to represent my country at the highest level. Deciding when to call it a day is always a difficult one, but after deep consideration I have come to the realization that now is the right time to retire. From Test cricket.

“I have been blessed to share a dressing room with some of the greatest cricketers with whom I share a strong bond.

“I feel so much richer for calling these people my friends. I’ve also been blessed to have played under some great coaches who I will always be grateful to.

“I retire from international cricket as a satisfied cricketer who ticked off most of the goals he set for himself. Few cricketers go on to lead their country and to have captained Pakistan is a matter of great pride for me.

“I had some of the best moments of my life when I was a kid who started as a leg-spinner as the heel of the Test batting line-up, and I had some of the best moments of my life that I will cherish forever.”

Azhar, who took part in last week’s second Test against England in Multan, played the last of his 53 ODIs in January 2008 and has never played for the national T20 team.

Watch the first day of the third Test between Pakistan and England in Karachi live on Sky Sports from 4.30am on Saturday. The first ball is at 5 o’clock.