6. Azhar Ali (Pakistan)
Azhar Ali is the only player from Pakistan to have scored 1,000 or more runs in 2016. In 21 innings this year, Azhar has stroked 1,016 runs at an average of 56.44 with 2 centuries and 5 half-centuries. 2016 witnessed Pakistani Vice-captain scoring his first ever century in England, when he played a glorious knock of 139 runs at Birmingham. But his best innings came in Pakistan’s first ever Day-Night Test at Dubai, as he compiled a gigantic 302 runs off 469 deliveries against West Indies. He followed it up with half-centuries in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
In New Zealand, Pakistan had a disastrous tour but there as well, Azhar played a fighting 161-ball 58 run knock in Hamilton. The old-school batsman also made a gritty half-century in Brisbane and followed it up with yet another good knock in Melbourne and is on a spree to improve his record in non-Asian conditions.
