All-experienced Azhar Ali takes the reins, aims to prioritize Test cricket

• Newly appointed Test captain Azhar Ali says outgoing Sarfaraz got his full support.
• "It would be my priority that our players would focus on red ball cricket," said Azhar.

Pakistan's newly appointed Test captain Azhar Ali has said he aims to develop a team culture apart from improving his side rankings in Test cricket.

“We are currently placed seventh on the Test rankings, so in the upcoming Word Test Championships all our opponents would be ranked higher. There are tough challenges ahead, but it also gives us a great opportunity to play some good cricket,” he said, while addressing media persons at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Friday.

“I would try to improve Pakistan Test rankings in four, five years,” he said.

The PCB appointed Azhar as national cricket team captain for Pakistan’s World Test Championship matches in the 2019-20 season, while Babar Azam has been named captain of the No.1 ranked T20I side until next year’s ICC T20 World Cup Australia 2020, which is now exactly one year away.

Speaking about outgoing skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, Azhar said that the wicket-keeper batsman got his full support. “Sarfaraz has rendered great services for Pakistan cricket, I talked to him and I give my full support to him,” he said.

Azhar, who would be serving his second stint as a captain, said that participating in county cricket and domestic cricket has taught him a lot as a player. “I think that I am better prepared to take up the captaincy, time teaches you a lot, I think I have learned a lot of things and you would see a number of changes in my captaincy,” he said.

Talking about his aim as the leader of Pakistan Test side, Azhar said that apart from winning he wants to produce players that can serve Pakistan for a considerable period, and transfer his experience to them.

“Test cricket is the best format of the game, and it would be my priority that our players would focus on red ball cricket because the white ball would take care of itself. We need to develop a team culture that we make good decisions under pressure and empower other players to take the decision themselves under pressure.”

The upcoming captain said that he shares a good rapport with head coach-cum-chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq. “This is not a short term captaincy, I would have ample time to perform.”

About PCB’s decision to appoint Babar Azam as T20I captain, the Test skipper said that he could not comment on PCB’s decision.

“There is no bigger honour than to captain the Pakistan national cricket team in the pinnacle format of the game. I feel humbled, excited and privileged, and with the support of the team, look forward to justifying the faith that has been entrusted upon me for the World Test Championship,” said Azhar Ali.