Alex Hales: “You can’t knock back his ability and talent”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
England batsman Alex Hales said people can’t badmouth Pakistan big-hitter Azam Khan’s “ability and talent” as he has shown how dominant he can be.
Azam is known for his power-hitting and has produced exceptional batting displays on numerous occasions over the last couple of years.
While he has done well in T20 leagues and domestic cricket, the 25-year-old has been unable to replicate that success at the international level, where he has amassed 29 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 4.83 and a strike-rate of 90.62.
Azam was given a chance to potentially cement his place in Pakistan’s T20I team during the five-match series against New Zealand, but he let the opportunity slip through his fingers as he only managed to score 22 runs in three games at an average of 7.33 and a strike-rate of 115.78.
Despite his failures in international cricket, Hales stressed that it would be a big mistake to write off Azam.
“You can’t knock back his ability and talent,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Hales and Azam are now in action for Islamabad United in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), with the England cricketer having accumulated 106 runs in four matches at an average of 26.50 and a strike-rate of 132.50.
As for Azam, he has made 89 runs in five games, which includes a top score of 75, at an average of 29.66 and a strike-rate of 202.27.
Islamabad United Squad for PSL 9: Shadab Khan (captain), Naseem Shah, Jordan Cox, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Tymal Mills, Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Matthew Forde, Salman Ali Agha, Qasim Akram, Shahab Khan, Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah, Shamyl Hussain, Obed McCoy, Haider Ali, Muhammad Waseem