Azhar Ali: “I feel fine now and am raring to go again”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali has brushed aside talk that his knee injury will prohibit him from being the player he once was.

Azhar, who is gearing up for a county stint with Somerset, defended himself after his disappointing tour of South Africa, where he scored 59 runs in three Tests at an average of 9.83.

Despite his below-par performance against the Proteas, Azhar is determined to prove that he is still one of Pakistan’s most elite batsmen.

“I don’t think that is the case,” Azhar told Sky Sports when asked about what the critics had to say. “With a knee injury, it will always flare up now and then, but I feel fine now and am raring to go again.

“Sometimes form can be related to fitness, but I’m happy with my recovery from injury. I thought I batted well in New Zealand and regained my form there, but then I struggled in South Africa, which was disappointing.

“But I’m here at Somerset and it’s a good opportunity for me to keep working on my form and fitness during an international break.”