Azhar Ali expected to get 'important' position in PCB

Pakistan cricket team's former captain and Test cricketer Azhar Ali is likely to get an important position in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), sources told Geo News on Friday.

According to sources, 39-year-old Azhar might be given the responsibility in the selection committee or high-performance centre of the cricketing body. 

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is in favour of taking benefit from the former cricketer's experience. 

The batter announced retirement from Test cricket in 2022 after playing his last series against England. 

The 37-year-old made his debut in 2010 in England against Australia at Lord’s and scored his maiden Test half-century in only his second match.

He scored 34 more half-centuries and went past the 100-run mark on 19 instances.

Azhar, one of the most successful batters in the country, scored 7,097 runs in 96 matches at an average of 42.49.

Among his accolades, Azhar is the only Pakistan batter to score a triple-century in a pink-ball Test. He had achieved the feat against the West Indies at Dubai in 2016. That unbeaten 302 remains his highest score in Test cricket.

Azhar captained Pakistan in nine Tests in two separate tenures from 2016 to 2020.

The batter had also already retired from One-Day Internationals in 2018 – a year after helping Pakistan win the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. 

Rehan-ul-Haq likely to become team manager

Meanwhile, former team manager, Rehan-ul-Haq, is also expected to hold the position once again, added the sources.

Rehan-ul-Haq was appointed as the team manager under Najam Sethi's chairmanship. 

"Rehan-ul-Haq will soon take over his duties in the Pakistan team," claimed the sources.