Shoaib Malik: “Azam & Shadab, you two are vital for our team, don’t lose confidence, play with heart, you are match-winners”
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Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik believes spinner Shadab Khan and wicketkeeper-batsman Azam Khan are “match-winners” and vital members of the team despite their poor performances as of late.
Shadab has not been able to take any wickets since April 2024, while Azam has struggled to make any major contributions with the bat.
Both players continue to falter despite being given numerous chances, but Malik urged them not to “lose confidence”.
“Azam & Shadab, you two are vital for our team, don’t lose confidence, play with heart, you are match-winners,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Shadab went wicketless in four games and didn’t even bowl in Pakistan’s matches against India and Canada.
As for Azam, he only featured in the opening match against the United States of America and was dismissed for a golden duck.
Pakistan lost to the United States of America and India before triumphing over Canada and Ireland.
Despite this, they were eliminated in the group stage of the T20 World Cup.
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
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