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Azhar replaces McCullum as Lahore Qalandars skipper: PSL

Pakistan ODI captain Azhar Ali faces a major setback as Pakistan Super League (PSL) outfit

Lahore Qalandars have removed him as captain with the Test batsman even struggling hard to

maintain his place in the PSL outfit. Former legendary batsman and Kiwi skipper Brendon

McCullum will replace Azhar Ali as the skipper for the second edition of PSL. Lahore Qalandars’

Director Cricket Operations Aaqib Javed made this announcement late Thursday evening.

McCullum will not only lead in side but will also serve as a batting mentor for the franchise.

Lahore Qalandars’ Director Cricket Operations Aaqib Javed said that the Lahore Qalandars had

taken the decision to help the high-profile outfit throw up better performance in second edition

of the PSL scheduled to be held in February 2017 in the UAE. The former fast bowler Aaqib

Javed said that removing Azhar as captain of Lahore Qalandars won’t have any negative impact

on his captaincy in the ODIs, adding that the Test batsman was not part of the national T20 side

as well.

In the first edition of the PSL, Lahore Qalandars just succeeded to win two games out of their

eight under Azhar’s captaincy. Azhar Ali scored 183 runs in 7 games for Lahore, at a strike rate

of 106.39. Umar Akmal was the leading run scorer of the tournament, with South Africa’s

Cameron Delport at no.6. The Qalandars feel pain with lack of bowling firepower last time out,

something which the management is already looking to fix several months prior to the mega

event in the UAE.