Hafeez lashes out at Azam Khan for his poor fitness (x.com)
Pakistan defeated Canada by seven wickets in New York to earn their first victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. However, the team, led by Babar Azam, had a rocky start, losing to co-hosts USA in a Super Over and narrowly to India by six runs.
Azam Khan, the wicketkeeper-batter, has been under heavy scrutiny for his poor fitness and form. His struggles have led to him being dropped from the starting lineup, with little chance of returning for the rest of the tournament.
In his T20 World Cup debut, Azam Khan was removed for a golden duck in a campaign opener against the co-host United States.
Hafeez Criticizes Azam Khan’s Fitness
Former Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez offered insights into Azam’s fitness issues.
“Other players in the Pakistan team can run two kilometers in just 10 minutes, but Azam Khan will take 20 minutes for the same distance. Regrettably, Azam Khan does not appear to be fully committed to playing international cricket,” Hafeez said.
Hafeez emphasized the importance of fitness in international cricket, regardless of a player’s build.
“Fitness is crucial for playing at the required level, regardless of one’s build. We provided Azam with a fitness plan, but he was unable to improve his condition. While talent got you onto the team, maintaining adequate fitness is essential. In fact, you are the only player we’ve made exceptions for in terms of fitness standards,” he added.
Azam Khan’s poor performance and fitness issues have drawn criticism from fans and former players alike. As Pakistan sits in third place in Group A with 2 points from 3 matches, they trail the USA by 2 points.
The USA’s recent defeat to India has lessened the significance of the net run rate in the group, but Pakistan holds a better net run rate of +0.191 compared to the co-hosts’ +0.127.
Looking ahead, Pakistan faces the prospect of early elimination from the T20 World Cup. They will play against Ireland on Sunday, June 16, in Florida, with rain expected to add another challenge.