Bilal Afzal: “Selecting Azam Khan was a unanimous decision by the selectors. His performances on the pitches of the Caribbean have been a standout”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Selection committee member and data analyst Bilal Afzal has revealed that it was a unanimous decision to pick big-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan in the national team.
Questions have been raised about Azam’s inclusion in the side due to his fitness and poor performances at the international level.
The 25-year-old has featured in eight T20Is to date and scored 29 runs at an average of 4.83 and a strike-rate of 90.62.
However, Afzal pointed out that the selectors were highly impressed by Azam’s batting during the 2023 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and thus want to keep him in the Pakistan squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies and United States of America in June.
He added that Azam deserves a “proper chance” to prove himself in international cricket as getting more game time will “build his confidence.”
“Selecting Azam Khan was a unanimous decision by the selectors. His performances on the pitches of the Caribbean have been a standout,” Afzal was quoted as saying by A Sports.
“We thought to give him a proper chance so he could prepare himself for the upcoming World Cup. It will build his confidence and we want him to win this World Cup for us.”
Azam was supposed to play in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, but was ruled out with a grade one tear in his right calf muscle.
The series ended as a 2-2 draw.
Pakistan Squad for New Zealand T20I Series: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan
Non-travelling reserves: Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha