Alex Hales: “He’s absolutely brilliant. His form [in] the last couple of years has been really good”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
England power-hitter Alex Hales acknowledged that Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan has been in good form over the past couple of years.
Azam’s performances in T20 leagues and domestic cricket earned him a recall to the Pakistan T20I team for the five-match series against New Zealand in January 2024.
However, the 25-year-old was unable to make the most of the opportunity given to him as he mustered 22 runs in three games at an average of 7.33 and a strike-rate of 115.78.
Even though he failed to deliver once again at the international level, Hales is confident that Azam will shine in the future.
“He’s absolutely brilliant. His form [in] the last couple of years has been really good,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Azam recently missed Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand in April 2024 due to a grade one tear in his right calf muscle.
He returned for the three-match T20I series against Ireland and struck 48 runs at an average of 48 and a strike-rate of 266.66.
Pakistan’s next assignment will see them 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