Babar Azam: “All selections, including Azam Khan, were made on merit. Questions arise after a defeat”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs captain Babar Azam has insisted that wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan was picked on merit.
Babar’s comments come after Azam has repeatedly failed to impress in T20I cricket, where he has amassed 88 runs in 14 matches at an average of 8.80 and a strike-rate of 133.33.
After missing Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand with a grade one tear in his right calf muscle, the power-hitter returned for three-match T20I series against Ireland and struck 48 runs at an average of 48 and a strike-rate of 266.66.
He then proceeded to feature in two T20Is against England and mustered 11 runs at an average of 5.50 and a strike-rate of 73.33.
In the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup, Azam only featured in the opening game against the United States of America, but failed to have an impact once again as he was dismissed for a duck.
The 25-year-old, who has consistently been accused of benefiting from nepotism as he is the son of former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, was subsequently left out of the playing XI for the next two matches against India and Canada.
Despite failing to live up to expectations even after being given plenty of chances, Babar stressed that picking the talented batsman was the right call.
“All selections, including Azam Khan, were made on merit. Questions arise after a defeat,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan’s next match in the T20 World Cup will be against Ireland on June 16 in Lauderhill.
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed