As one international career ends in Karachi, another dawns, with Pakistan’s Azhar Ali announcing the series final will be his last appearance if selected and England confirming a long-awaited debut for 18-year-old Rehan Ahmed.
First up Ahmed, one of two changes to the England team that took an unassailable 2-0 lead in Multan. Leicestershire’s leg-spinner all-rounder was named in a direct swap with Will Jacks, while Ollie Pope was released from the gloves to focus on his batting, Ben Fawkes returned and Jimmy Anderson was told to rest 40 -year-old legs.
Becoming number 710, Ahmed also takes the record as England’s youngest Test cricketer in history. Brian Close was 18 years and 149 days old when he played for the first time against New Zealand at Old Trafford in 1949, while Ahmed, three first-class matches to date, will be 23 days his junior when the third Test begins on Saturday.
Announcing his final squad of the year 24 hours after the draw, Ben Stokes said: “I think it’s a good opportunity for us not only to look at Rehan but for him to come in and experience what it’s like to play international cricket.
“He’s got a lot of skill with both bat and ball, so it’s great to be able to bring in someone with the talent and excitement that he has and see what he’s got this week.”
“I think at such a young age it’s great to see someone who has so much freedom in what he does and how he bats. He has a huge range of shots. And obviously it’s great to have a wrist spinner in your team, especially in these conditions.”
On Anderson’s omission, his first tour of Pakistan since returning eight wickets at 18 runs apiece and being central to England’s series win, Stokes explained it was simply a case of ensuring he was ready for the challenges in the new year. England play a two-match series in New Zealand in February before their Ashes summer.
Moments earlier at the National Stadium in Karachi, an emotional Azhar cited Anderson as the toughest opponent in a successful international career that ends this week. The 37-year-old will continue to play with Worcestershire in county cricket, but if selected it will be his 97th and final Test appearance for Pakistan.
An emotional Azhar Ali at the press conference where he discussed his retirement from international cricket. Photo: Rizwan Tabassum/AFP/Getty Images
Either way, Azhar would finish as the country’s fifth highest run-scorer in Test history, having amassed 7,097 at an average of 42 for 19 centuries. The right-hander’s career spanned a considerable time in Pakistan cricket, the first 75 matches since his debut against Australia at Lord’s in 2010 being won away as teams refused to tour the country.
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Azhar was a pillar of the team that rose to No. 1 in the world rankings, who also captained him 40 times in Tests and One Day International cricket. His match-winning 118 against Sri Lanka in Karachi in 2019 was also a moment in Pakistan’s history as it was their first Test century on home soil in 10 years.
He said, “I retire from international cricket as an accomplished cricketer who has accomplished most of the goals he set for himself. Not many cricketers lead their countries and being able to captain Pakistan is a matter of great pride for me.
“From a kid who started out as a leg-spinner to becoming a mainstay in the Test batting line-up, I’ve had the greatest moments of my life that I will cherish forever.”
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