Former Pakistan captain Mohamed Hafeez who was recently sacked from the post of Team Director by the Pakistan Cricket Board earlier this month, explained the real reason why batsman Azam Khan was dropped from their playing XI after the first 3 T20Is of a series of 5 games in New Zealand last month that the visitors lost 4-1. It was also Shaheen Afridi’s first time leading Pakistan in a bilateral series and it was unforgettable.
They had backed Azam Khan to keep the stumps and feature in the middle order from number 6. The batsman who burst onto the scene thanks to his aggressive performances in the Pakistan Super League, failed to make any impact and was eventually dropped from the bottom two. . T20Is, having scored just 22 in the first three matches.
“Nowadays social media is after you,” says Hafeez Pakistan did not want to undermine Azam Khan’s confidence
While speaking to A Sports recently, Mohammad Hafeez stated that Azam Khan was dropped from the last two T20Is for his own good as he was experiencing poor form anyway. Hafeez claimed that if Azam had not been able to bring about a turnaround in the remaining matches, he would have shattered his self-confidence and also highlighted that he would have been severely trolled by fans on social media, which could have further damaged morale. of the young man.
Hafeez also said that he was left with no option but to leave Azam even if he wanted to give him more playing time. But since he could not reach the expected standards, it was best that he did not participate in the last two matches.
“We have given him clarity that he is not going anywhere. Personally, I wanted to give him more matches, but after 3 matches, we thought he wasn’t performing well enough that his confidence wouldn’t be broken to the point where he couldn’t come back, because you know, nowadays social media comes . after you immediately after one or two performances.” – Hafeez said via A Sports.
Such has been Azam Khan’s short international career, in which he has been chosen for his promise and potential, rather than his match-winning performances. Since making his T20I debut in 2021 in England, the 25-year-old has played 7 matches after his debut and has only disappointed his father Moin Khan, Pakistani fans and of course Pakistan Cricket Board. The powerful batsman has scored just 1 six in 7 innings and only has 29 runs to his name with a maximum of 10. That pretty much sums up his case.
“He will have those 10 or 15 matches before the World Cup,” Hafeez on Azam’s chances in the T20 World Cup
Mohammad Hafeez did not make it obvious but he did indicate that Azam Khan could be in line to feature for Pakistan in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. Hafeez revealed that when he told Azam that he was being dumped, the 26-year-old assured himself that he would get opportunities in the future and there was no reason to worry.
The former team manager stated that the management had thought of giving him a long rope until the World Cup and that Azam will get his chances when New Zealand arrive for a T20 series tour to Pakistan before heading to England for another T20I series.
“The plan was to play with him, give him a full career, until the World Cup he won’t go anywhere. The 3 or 4 matches he had here (New Zealand), the New Zealand team will come here in April and then we will go to England, so he will have those 10 to 15 matches before the World Cup.” – Hafeez concluded.