Azhar Ali retires from one-day internationals

The Pakistan batsman, 33, featured in 53 ODIs over the course of his career, racking up 1,845 runs at an average of 36.90

Azhar Ali has announced his retirement from one-day international cricket.

The Pakistan batsman, 33, featured in 53 ODIs over the course of his career, racking up 1,845 runs at an average of 36.90.

He has struggled to make an impact in the arena over the past year, however, and last appeared for Pakistan in 50-over cricket against New Zealand in Dunedin in January.

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Ali will continue to play Test matches for his country. In the red-ball form, he averages 44.19 from 128 innings.

His form in one-day cricket for Pakistan dipped significantly since 2015. During the first four years of his international career - between 2011 and 2015 - he averaged 43.82 with two centuries and seven fifties.

Since the start of 2016, however, his average is just 28.09, while his last contribution of note came during the Champions Trophy in England last year.

"It is not a decision that I have taken suddenly," he said. "I had been considering this for quite some time. I think the time is right for me to focus on Test cricket.

"This is my personal decision for the betterment of my career."