Mohammad Hafeez: “I promise you that I gave him total confidence. He was totally looked after and given clarity. Even after he couldn’t perform, I told him that I will look after him and he won’t be forgotten”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan team director and interim head coach Mohammad Hafeez revealed he promised wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan that he wouldn’t be forgotten after being removed from the playing XI in T20Is.
Azam has been a solid performer in domestic cricket and various T20 leagues, and earned a recall for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in January.
However, the 25-year-old barely had an impact as he was limited to 22 runs in three games at an average of 7.33 and a strike-rate of 115.78.
Despite not persisting with Azam, Hafeez insisted he ensured the power-hitter “was totally looked after and given clarity” about his future.
“I promise you that I gave him total confidence. He was totally looked after and given clarity. Even after he couldn’t perform, I told him that I will look after him and he won’t be forgotten,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Azam played for Islamabad United in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and made 226 runs in 12 matches, which included a top score of 75, at an average of 25.11 and a strike-rate of 171.21.
He was set to feature in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, but was sidelined after being diagnosed with a grade one tear in his right calf muscle.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a three-match T20I series against Ireland from May 10 to 14.
After that, they will play four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
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