Atiq-uz-Zaman: “Maqbool Ahmed, the wicketkeeper for Southern Punjab in domestic cricket, was wasted just to make a place for Azam”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman has claimed that Southern Punjab wicketkeeper-batsman Maqbool Ahmed “was wasted” simply to make space for Azam Khan.
Maqbool was active on the domestic circuit until November 2022, while Azam made his international debut back in July 2021.
The 25-year-old, who is the son of ex-Pakistan captain Moin Khan, has represented his country in 14 T20Is, but only mustered 88 runs at an average of 8.80 and a strike-rate of 133.33.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he failed to have an impact at all, scoring a golden duck against the United States of America, which was the only game he played.
“Maqbool Ahmed, the wicketkeeper for Southern Punjab in domestic cricket, was wasted just to make a place for Azam,” Atiq was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan lost their first two T20 World Cup games against the United States of America and India before rebounding to take down Canada and Ireland.
Despite finishing the group stage with a 2-2 record, they failed to qualify for the Super Eights.
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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