Tanvir Ahmed on Azam Khan: “Since he has come, people have been pushing for his selection and some are saying that they [PCB] are planning to play him [in the] T20 World Cup later this year”
Image courtesy of: Pakistan Super League
Former Pakistan seamer Tanvir Ahmed said wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan could be picked for the T20 World Cup later this year.
The tournament is scheduled to be held in India from October to November, but due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in the country, there is speculation it could be moved to the UAE.
Tanvir’s comments come after Azam earned his maiden call-up to the Pakistan T20 side for the upcoming tours of England and the West Indies.
The youngster, who is the son of former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan, has been included in the Pakistan team due to his performances in domestic cricket.
In the Pakistan Cup, the 22-year-old accumulated 186 runs in seven games for Sindh, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 46.50 and a strike-rate of 124.83.
As for the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), he scored 174 runs in 10 matches for the Quetta Gladiators, which includes a top score of 47, at an average of 17.40 and a strike-rate of 133.84.
Despite his efforts, the Gladiators failed to qualify for the playoffs as they only won two of their 10 games.
“Since he has come, people have been pushing for his selection and some are saying that they [PCB] are planning to play him [in the] T20 World Cup later this year,” Tanvir said on his YouTube channel as quoted by Khel Shel.
Pakistan will play three ODIs and three T20 Internationals against England. The ODI series will begin on July 8 and conclude on July 13, while the T20 series will be held from July 16 to 20.
The tour of the West Indies will consist of five T20 Internationals and two Tests, with the T20 series getting underway on July 27 and ending on August 3.
As for the Test series, it will start on August 12 and conclude on August 24.
Pakistan Test Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper) (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dhani, Yasir Shah (subject to fitness) and Zahid Mahmood
Pakistan ODI Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Agha Salman, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Qadir
Pakistan T20 Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Arshad Iqbal, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sharjeel Khan and Usman Qadir