||Desk Report||

Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali has announced his retirement from ODI cricket as he now wants to focus on red-ball cricket. However, he confirmed that he will be playing in all formats in the domestic circuit.

“I haven't made this decision abruptly. I've thought it through. I think this is the right time to make this decision. I want to focus on one format and invest my all energies in it,” he said.

Azhar became a part of Pakistan’s Test team in 2010 and made his ODI debut in May 2011. He has played a total of 53 ODIs and captained Pakistan in 18 of those matches. With three hundreds and twelve fifties to his name, Azhar made 1845 runs in the 50-over format. He last featured in the format against New Zealand earlier this year.

The right-handed batsman played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy triumph in 2017 although he was removed from captaincy before the tournament. He was Pakistan’s second-highest run-getter in the competition, amassing 228 runs at 45.60 with three half-centuries, one of which came in the very final match against India.

“The Champions Trophy win,” Azhar revealed the most memorable moment of his ODI career. “Whenever I will be asked this question, this will be my answer. It is always important to be a part of a winning team.”