The national selection committee, led by Moin Khan, is seriously considering Azhar along with the option of Kamran Akmal, as his temperament is deemed valuable on the quick and bouncy pitches.
The 29-year-old last represented Pakistan in the 50-over format back in January 2013 against India in Kolkata, and so far, he has scored 452 runs from 14 ODIs at an average of 41.09, while his strike rate has been on the slower side at 64.84.
“Azhar is now a serious contender for the third opener position,” a selection committee member told The Express Tribune.
“He has good technique and his temperament will be beneficial in the more bowling-friendly conditions of the World Cup. We need a player who can bat well against the new balls and make sure that the middle order isn’t exposed regularly against the new ball.”
It should be mentioned here that Azhar also opened the innings against Australia in the second Test when Muhammad Hafeez was injured back in October.
The official further added that Azhar’s case has gained strength because he can bowl decent leg-spin, and a player who can perform with both bat and ball is always preferable.
“He provides us with the option of bowling as well, while he is also a tremendous fielder in close catching positions too. Selectors gave opportunities to both Sharjeel Khan and Nasir Jamshed, but they have failed to cement their places. So now it’s a call between Azhar and Kamran.”
Meanwhile, Kamran’s played in Australia and has an ODI hundred from his spell there while overall, he has hit five centuries in 154 ODIs, scoring 3,168 runs at an average of 26.18. However, he has been out of the one-day side for more than 18 months.
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COMMENTS (13)
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Hey PCB,
Listrn . You want to know which players are REAL players DAT you have? Then here it is: Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Sami Aslam, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam, Junaid Khan. All these guys are brave game changers, pressure handlers. And good fielders too. If you want to win the world cup then you have to include most of them.
If You Have Azhar Ali In Your final 15 , You Will Probably lose before the match has Started. Well This Guy Has a Strike Rate Of 64.5 . And With younus khan in the Squad , No Reason For Him in the Final 11. And This Guy Only Performs When You dont need him.
Having Kamran Akmal in the squad would be the most stupid decision of all time. You pick your best 15 team at the moment or your best 15 since last 6 months. Kamran Akmal was in the squad for champion trophy last year in england for the same reasons and what did he do there. Nothing. You have sarfaraz who has performed remarkably recently and should be continued with. You have a crop of new batsmen who should be given the opportunity now.
Please end this Kamran Akmal fascination PCB, MOIN KHAN AND WAQAR YOUNIS.
Introduce some new bowlers in team or batsman. We lack all rounders. Razzak should have been given a chance. I don't know why Pak is scared to introduce new faces. Yasir shah should be included in place of Ajmal. We don't have hitters to finish last 10 overs for 100plus runs. Selectors did not do proper job for world cup.
I think kamran Akmal is the best choose as a opener.You know kamran can bat well qs wel as he is a dangereous batsman.he can good srarted as a opener.
@Sensible FYI WACA is in Perth and not in Brisbane. If common sense prevails they should select fawad alam along with YK and Azhar Ali at least these people can stay on the wicket you don't bring in fresh blood into big tournaments. And please leave the old horses like the Akmals and Maliks at home they don't deserve a free ticket to Australia.
It makes sense to include Azhar who is a sound player. It is imp Pakistan gets a good start and then rest of the team can play their natural game. With the likes of Akmals we would not be able to play full 50 overs. Let us make sure we play each and every ball not bundle out before that. The world has seen if the initial batsmen do well then even Misbah and Sarfaraz can destroy any opposition. Pakistan's weakest point remains dependable batsmen especially openers. Keep the corrupt players and politicians away from the team.
Umer akmal should also be kicked out, it is to be living in fools paradise if taking him along. he has a poor 50 over temperament and he always leaves team in dire straits especially when chasing. Kamran Akmal is again a failure at the highest level especially with gloves. It is irony that he has represented Pakistan in 2 world Cups and proved a failure leaving as many catches behind. To be honest the tail has stuck up in trap when saeed ajmal and hafeez are right apprehended on chuking. we cant say that if ashwin is chuker than ajmal and hafeez should also be allowed. two wrongs doesnt make 1 right. Hafeez batting at fast tracks is simply poor, not to forget how he was made embarrassing example by steyn in South Africa. Shezad and Azhar both are good options for openers followed by younis, misbah, sarfraz, afridi, anwar, irfan, junaid,....................alas we cant even make 10 players. half are miseries with injuries and half are chits like sohail tanveer (shakeel sheikh chit), bilawal bhatti, nasir jamshed,n few are chukers..................ajmal n hafeez. wahab riaz and asad both were simply eratic. They have already selected pool of 30 unfit players. They should have selected atleast Muhammad Sami as he is still quick and atleast more accurate than these bowlers and in ODIs he has a better record with some batting skills. Umer Gul is simply unfit. He alrady cost Pakistan t20 world cup where he was unfit but made himself available and received fatal beatings by West Indies. His record in previous and 2007 World Cup is also unimpressive. He will going to be a big liability in World Cup if taken along.
Pak selectors seem to be obsessed with the "bouncy" and "fast" pitches of Aus. Can anyone tell them that Pak is playing all their group matches in NZ except for 2 in Adelaide. We all know that Adelaide is not a bouncy wicket, its like subcontinent wicket and run feast. One match that they're playing is in WACA Brisbane and that too against Zimbabwe. I HOPE some common sense prevail and they don't select playing based on their test match feasts. We need to a balanced sides- the one that has aggression and control. We don't want pedestrians like Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Younis.
I don't understand what majic Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik have on the team that they always make comebacks for a world cup and then vanish again
It will be a big blunder to get Kamran Akmal back. He and his brother will be upto some mischief all over again
I don't know but the selectors, manager and the coach want to make sure that Pakistan never win and always celebrate positives. They must be seeing some positives again in recalling mr dentonic
If good sense prevails, Azhar should be an automatic choice considering the poor technique of all openers tried so far. Azhar & Shahzad as openers with Umar Akmal one down can make a better combination at the top than what we have today.
Ladies and gentlemen, can someone please tell the selectors this is a ODI world cup and not a test match cup. With the likes of Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Misbah ul Haq in the team, if we score at 3 runs an over we should count ourselves lucky. Selectors are doing everything they can to ensure we get thrashed at the world cup.
The selectors have taken upon them selves the responsability to make sure that Pakistan does not win the World Cup. My God, Kamran Akmal, a batsman who averages 26 has been left out of the squad for the last 18 months how does he have a chance and a player like Fawad Alam, who by the way has the best average in Australia among the Pakistani 30, has been in prime form this year, scored a more recent hundred is more reliable with the bat and is a great fielder plus can bowl as well, has been side lined. First they brought in Younis Khan, for his Test performances and now Kamran Akmal, this is turning out to be the same squad that went to the 2011 World Cup.