Azhar Ali now shares 10th position with Tendulkar in ICC Test Player Rankings

India Gazette (ANI) Wednesday 8th February, 2012

Pakistan cricketer Azhar Ali has climbed up to share the 10th position with India's master blaster Sachin Tendulkar in the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen.

The ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen were updated after the Dubai Test finished on Monday, the Daily Times reports.

Azhar Ali scored 157 in Pakistan's second innings score of 365, which set England a target of 324. England finished 71 runs short when they were bowled out for 252 to suffer a 3-0 whitewash - their first against Pakistan in 22 series.

For making his highest first-class score, Azhar was not only declared the man of the match, but was also rewarded with a jump of 12 places in the batting table, which has given him a place alongside Tendulkar.

The latest achievement is definitely a huge turnaround in his career for Azhar, who was first picked as a fast bowler in the Pakistan Under-19 squad in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2002.

Azhar, who was shortlisted for the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year Award at the ICC Awards in London in 2011, featured in a match-winning 216-run third wicket partnership with Pakistan's most experienced batsman Younus Khan. (ANI)