Azhar Ali targets Pakistan opening role

Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) opening batsman, Azhar Ali, feels he is "due a chance" to open for Pakistan, after scoring a century on the first day against PIA at the National Stadium in Karachi. Azhar scored 108 as KRL ended day one of the Quaid-e-Azam tournament on 262 for 3, with captain Mohammad Wasim unbeaten on 84.

"It's a busy schedule for Pakistan in the coming months and I pray the selectors give me an opportunity to show what I can do," Ali told PakPassion.net. "I'm targeting one of the opening spots and I hope that I can keep doing well for KRL and keep catching the eye of the selectors"

"Representatives of the selection committee were present today at the National stadium and they saw me score a chanceless century on a wicket that certainly was not easy especially in the first couple of hours. Although the wicket eased in the afternoon and final sessions, it was not the easiest wicket to bat on and I hope the selectors were impressed with what they saw."

Ali had joined KRL as a legspinner who battled in the lower order and gradually climbed up the order. He was a part of the A teams Pakistan sent to Sri Lanka and Australia earlier this year. "It certainly helped that I was selected for the A tours of Sri Lanka and Australia and came up against a number of current and former internationals in varied conditions," he said. "That experience really boosted my confidence.

"My plan when I go out to bat is to play within my limitations, keep things simple, bat according to my strengths and not to try anything that I am not comfortable with." Ali said that his captain Wasim was someone he looked up to and frequently turned to for advice on how to improve his game.