Younis Khan: “Sending Azam to open is an unusual but smart decision. It gives him more time to bat and take advantage of fielding restrictions. This could help him grow as a player”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan batsman Younis Khan believes it was “an unusual but smart decision” for Islamabad United to promote Azam Khan from a middle order batter to an opener.
Explaining why, Younis noted that opening the batting would give Azam more time to build an innings and “take advantage of fielding restrictions”.
However, despite being pushed up the batting order in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), the 26-year-old wasn’t able to make the most of it as he mustered 66 runs in seven matches at an average of 11 and a strike-rate of 101.53.
“Sending Azam to open is an unusual but smart decision. It gives him more time to bat and take advantage of fielding restrictions. This could help him grow as a player,” Younis said on Josh Jaga Dey as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
After the conclusion of PSL 10, Pakistan took on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, but Azam failed to make the cut when the squad was announced.
The men in green won the series 3-0.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, which will take place in Mirpur from July 20 to 24.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufiyan Muqeem
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