It was hard to concentrate during the spot-fixing controversy, expresses http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Azhar-Ali-c46890 – Cricket News Update
Azhar Ali, the top-order batsman from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, in 2010, was not easy to handle and he found it extremely hard to concentrate on his
game.
Having performed out of his skin in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy for a number of years, the 27-year-old cricketer made his way to the global arena in 2010, debuting against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 at the Lord’s.
Unfortunately, one of the biggest scams of the game’s history came during the fourth Test against England, when a British tabloid, the News of the World, broke news of the spot-fixing scandal, according to which, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Amir-c76675 and
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salman-Butt-c2418.
The trio was later banned from competitive cricket by the International Cricket Council (http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625) and also jailed in England. However, the controversy remains one of the dark spots on Pakistan’s cricketing history.
Azhar, who has been a permanent member of the national team since then, while talking to
ESPNcricinfo, admitted that things became extremely difficult for the team and also for him individually. Being on his first international tour with the Green Shirts, the right-hander was keen to prove his credentials, while the team was struck by
the scandal.
"It wasn't easy, especially because it was my debut tour. I had to concentrate hard and make myself understand that it's cricket and nothing else. It was hard but I focused on my game because I was out there to prove myself. So I
had to keep myself away from controversy and do what I was chosen for," the budding batsman expressed.
Since that series however, Pakistan have performed exceptionally well at the ultimate stage of the game, avoiding any major controversy, apart from the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zulqarnain-Haider-c98685 saga.
The cricketer from Lahore added that international sportsmen are accountable to their fans, but it was enormously difficult to face supporters after the whole episode.
He mentioned, “As a player you travel to different countries and have to gain the trust of the people, but it became so hard in that scenario - because you start thinking about what people are thinking about you.”
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