Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan has been criticised for his underwhelming performance in the T20I series against England. The bilateral assignment provided both teams with a platform to prepare for the T20 World Cup. After the first game was washed out due to rain, Pakistan lost the second T20I by 23 runs. The third game was also cancelled due to weather issues. Pakistan were desperate to bounce back in the final T20I of the four-match series but ended up suffering a seven-wicket defeat.
Pakistani fans slammed Azam Khan for his poor show. One of them fwrote that Azam Khan should not do wicketkeeping when Mohammad Rizwan is in the team. “Biggest tragedy ever done to Pakistan cricket is letting Azam Khan be wicketkeeper when Rizwan literally exists because Azam can’t run in the field,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Biggest tragedy ever done to Pakistan cricket is letting Azam Khan to be wicketkeeper when Rizwan literally exists, because Azam can't run in the field.— Haroon (@ThisHaroon) May 30, 2024
Another fan referred to Haris Rauf’s frustrating reaction after Azam Khan dropped a sitter in the fourth T20I.
Azam Khan drops another easy catch ????????????Look at Haris Rauf's reaction ????????????#tapmad #HojaoADFree #PAKvsENG #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/Qzo8Cxx4vG
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) May 30, 2024
Highlighting Azam Khan’s poor glovework, a fansaid, “You have one of the world’s best wicket-keepers in your team, Mohammad Rizwan yet you give the wicket-keeping gloves to Azam Khan.”
You have one of the world's best wicket-keepers in your team, Mohammad Rizwan yet you give the wicket-keeping gloves to Azam Khan#ENGvPAK #Cricket— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) May 30, 2024
This fan was claimed Azam Khan was “embarrassing himself” with his batting. “Can’t read spinner. Can’t play genuine pace,” read the comment.
Can't read spinner. Can't play genuine pace. Azam Khan is just embarrassing himself. #PakvsEng— Syed Ali Imran (@syedaliimran) May 30, 2024
Here are some other reactions:
Azam Khan is an embarrassment to international cricket pic.twitter.com/Ferp0ys5nf— yang goi (@GongR1ght) May 30, 2024
Azam Khan: watching Pakistani MMA fighters helped me to play fast bowlers.Peak comedy ????#ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/apkr3ZbwXc
— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) May 30, 2024
Pak adding Azam Khan into their WC lineup pic.twitter.com/ctDNnA8Qk0— Lahori Guy (@YrrrFahad_) May 30, 2024
A collapse in the Pakistani middle order was mostly responsible for the defeat in the final T20I of the four-match series. Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan gave Pakistan a good start, stitching a 59-run partnership during the powerplay. Usman Khan also had a good outing and contributed 38 runs to the scoresheet. The incoming Pakistani batters failed to build on the foundation. Fakhar Zaman was dismissed at 9 while Shadab Khan also returned to the pavilion with a golden duck.
Azam Khan, who is the son of former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, followed Shadab in the batting order. He managed to survive only five balls and scored nothing. In the second innings when England were chasing a 158-run target, Azam dropped a couple of catches, making the task difficult for the Pakistani bowlers.
The Pakistan cricket team, led by Babar Azam, will begin their campaign in the 2024 T20 World Cup with a match against co-hosts USA on June 6. In the other group-league fixtures, Pakistan will clash against arch-rivals India on June 9 before playing Canada and Ireland on June 11 and June 16.
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