Pakistan’s newly-elected Test Captain Azhar Ali said: “there could be no greater honor” than guiding his team at the highest level, and striving to leave a legacy by promoting new and young talent under its watch.
“There could not be a greater honor,” Azhar said after being named the new test captain of Pakistan on Friday, October 19. “This is an opportunity for me to leave a legacy, and the amount of cricket I have played for Pakistan over the next four to five years is very important to me, both as a player and as a captain.”
Azhar said his focus would be on achieving the desired results in the ICC Test Championship with a fearless approach and helping Pakistan, currently ranked No. 7 in the MRF Tire ICC Test Ranking, to climb the ladder.
JUST IN: Sarfaraz Ahmed has been removed as Pakistan's Test and T20I captain. Azhar Ali and Babar Azam will replace him. pic.twitter.com/3OhXWYbrCG
— ICC (@ICC) October 18, 2019
“The test championship is upon us and it’s like a test-cricket world championship, right now we’re number 7 in the ranking, so we have a reasonable distance,” he said. “The teams we play in the Test Championship will almost all be placed higher than us, so there are many challenges, but it’s also a great opportunity to play fearless, exciting cricket and get the results you want.”
“My goal is to bring players under my command who will serve the Pakistani cricket for many more years, by leaving my legacy, sharing my experiences and helping them to play fearlessly and positively. ” Cricket.
“That’s why winning is very important, but building a positive culture is a top priority for me, as you know, I gave priority to test cricket because it’s the best format of the game and the format in which to have the best skills My priority will be for my players to focus on Red Ball Cricket because White Ball Cricket takes care of itself. “
Azhar also announced that he had inquired with PCB about the term of his role before he was given responsibility.
“I specifically asked if my appointment was short-term or not,” said the 34-year-old. “The board fully supported me, that my appointment was not a short-term affair, which is why I accepted it, they did not give me a fixed time frame, but I was assured that I have enough time to prove myself and my own ideas in the team implement. “
ICYMI: Azhar Ali and Babar Azam to replace Sarfaraz Ahmed as Pakistan's Test and T20I captains respectively.https://t.co/ACD90tCcGJ
— ICC (@ICC) October 18, 2019
Pakistan will travel to Australia in less than two weeks to play three T20Is before their ICC Test Championship campaign begins with the first of the two tests in Brisbane on 21 November.
