http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Azhar-Ali-c46890 – Cricket News Update
Azhar Ali, the top-order batsman from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, has expressed that he looks up to Inzamam-ul-Haq and Jacques Kallis, but made it clear that he developed a style of his own over the years.
The 27-year-old cricketer from Lahore made his way to the national team in 2010 during the controversial tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, after consistently doing well at the first-class level. Since then, the right-hander has been a permanent member of the Test team and has not even missed a single game.
Over the last decade, Pakistan has not produced a number of a quality young batsmen, but Azhar has been an exception, doing exceedingly well against all major oppositions in trying circumstances.
In an interview to ESPNcricinfo, the stylish batsman expressed that he idolised the former captain, Inzamam, since his childhood, and revealed that Kallis, the great South African all-rounder, is also one of his favourite batsmen.
“I can't say if I had heroes as such, but my idol is Inzamam-ul-Haq. I always admired him and grew up watching him a lot, though that does not mean I followed him. Ultimately you develop your own style. Apart from Inzamam, I love watching [Jacques] Kallis,” said the young batsman.
Azhar did a brilliant job in the recently concluded tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 as well, scoring two magnificent hundreds in Tests and a couple of smashing half-centuries in the 50-overs format.
The top-order batsman understands that he will have to be very responsible in the coming years, taking into account the dearth of quality batsmen in the country. Azhar confessed that Inzamam and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Yousuf-c77465 belonged to a greater class but vowed to fill the void left by the legendary batsmen in the years to come.
He added, “When you represent your country it's always important to have a sense of responsibility. Before me, Inzamam and Mohammad Yousuf were the batsmen the team depended on a lot. I can't match the class of such great players but I try to guide the team in tough situations and play my part.”
Azhar is only considered in Tests and ODIs for Pakistan and is yet to play T20s for his country.
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