Azhar ensures no pride lost in 2022

The last time Pakistan played Australia in a Test match, Azhar Ali admitted his country's pride had been hurt by virtue of a 2-0 series flogging.

Come this week in Rawalpindi, the veteran has ensured there will be no repeat issues.

So often a thorn in Australia's side, the right-hander brought up his 19th Test century after lunch on day two, hitting Nathan Lyon over mid-on for four to bring up his hundred.

It marked his fourth ton against Australia, with his shot to reach three figures the streakiest of his innings as he went down the wicket to Lyon and just cleared Mitchell Swepson.

It was also just his ninth boundary, sweeping Lyon for six at one point on day one and twice punching Josh Hazlewood through the covers his best shots of the innings.

Otherwise the 37-year-old has batted with patience as he brought up his hundred from 257 deliveries, with the hosts keen to bat Australia out of the match in the first innings.

And so far, it looks like working.

Azhar combined with Imam-ul-Haq for a 208-run second-wicket stand, helping Pakistan to 2-313 when Imam was lbw to Pat Cummins for 157 from 358 balls.

Azhar's knock is meanwhile a far cry from the pain of the 2019-20 tour, where he failed to pass 10 in three of his four innings and Pakistan were beat by an innings in both Tests.

"We are a proud cricketing nation and definitely our pride has been hurt," Azhar said after the series.

Azhar's love affair with Australia's bowlers began in 2014, when he hit twin tons in the second Test in Abu Dhabi as part of his team's series win.

He then hit an unbeaten 205 in the 2016 Boxing Day Test, and let another hundred slip on Australia's last tour to Asia in 2018 when he was run out for 64 thinking a ball had reached the boundary.