Quantcast

Cup absentee named Pakistan ODI captain

Azhar Ali named Pakistan ODI captain despite having not playing ODI cricket in more than two years

Pakistan's cricket chiefs have named batsman Azhar Ali as the national side's new one-day international captain, despite the fact he has not made the 50-over team in more than two years and was not part of their World Cup squad.

The 30-year-old replaces Misbah-ul-Haq, who retired from ODIs following Pakistan's World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of eventual champions Australia.

Ali has played just 14 ODIs, the most recent in January 2013, when he contributed two with the bat as Pakistan beat arch-rivals India by 85 runs at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

Despite Ali's absence from the ODI squad, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan insisted he had proved himself in the domestic Pentangular Cup.

"Azhar Ali has been appointed captain because of his leadership skills, team spirit and character," Khan told reporters.

"I know Azhar Ali was not in the team in the last two years but his performance in the pentangular series proved that he deserves to be the captain."

Image Id: ~/media/C3804F0FF8EE42C382C1141ACA90E0B0

Ali hasn't played an ODI since January 2013 // Getty Images

Ali was also named as vice-captain for the Test side, which Misbah will continue to lead, while big-hitting allrounder Shahid Afridi stays on as Twenty20 skipper.

Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed was named vice-captain for both ODIs and T20s, a move that appears to cement his place in the side.

The 27-year-old was left out for the early matches of the World Cup but when he was finally called up, he responded with some dazzling glove-work and a century in the final pool match against Ireland, Pakistan's first century in the tournament since 2007.

Misbah led the side in 87 of his 162 ODIs, winning 45 of them, and has been a beacon of dogged stability in the often-turbulent world of Pakistani cricket in recent years.

Ali acknowledged he had a hard act to follow.

"It's a huge responsibility and I hope that all players will support me. I salute him (Misbah-ul-Haq), the way he served and the way he played. His services are unforgettable," he said.