Azhar Ali should play like Hashim Amla: Misbah-ul-Haq

Former Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has urged the opening batsman Azhar Ali to watch Hashim Amla and try to build his innings like the Proteas opener. Azhar Ali has been a vital cog of Pakistan’s batting line up across formats of the game, especially in overseas conditions.

Azhar played a crucial knock in the first semifinal against England and ensured no hiccups in his team’s chase of 211. Misbah praised Azhar Ali’s efforts in the match but suggested that he needed to be himself and play his natural game.

“He (Azhar) should try to play in gaps and focus on his timing. It is not necessary you have to hit the ball with force. He should watch how Amla plays,” Misbah told a sports TV channel. “He should play according to his strength and bring some improvisation in his batting. His role is different from others and he should try to play long innings,” former skipper added.

Azhar Ali has been in decent form and has accumulated 169 runs in 4 innings with a couple of half-centuries. His strike rate of 71.30 is debatable but Pakistan have not been chasing big scores thanks to their bowling unit. But the opener might need to pace his innings in the winner takes all clash as India has a formidable batting line up.

Pakistan face India in the mega finale of ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday. The two teams are facing each other second time in this edition and India sauntered to victory by 124 runs in the earlier face off. Misbah looked excited for the upcoming final as he was part of the last title clash between the two nations played in 2007 in the inaugural World T20. Misbah was at the helm in that game and Pakistan agonizingly lost that match by 5 runs as the skipper scooped the ball into Sreesanth’s hands.