Pakistani batsman Azam Khan picked former India captain MS Dhoni over AB de Villiers as the greatest finisher in the history of T20 cricket. The 26-year-old recently had a virtual interview with a media outlet called CricWick on their X space (formerly Twitter) where he was asked to choose between several former and active players as the best finisher.
Azam Khan, who is currently participating in Pakistan Super League Season 9 with Islamabad United, is going through a rough patch on the international stage. Right now he is working hard to regain form and book his tickets with the national team for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which is scheduled to begin on June 1.
Azam Khan puts Abdul Razzaq over Jos Buttler
The first two players Azam was asked to choose from were England white-ball captain Jos Buttler and former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq. Without much surprise, Azam chose his senior compatriot over the England international, who led England to their second T20 World Cup title in 2022, beating Pakistan in the final.
It could be that Azam Khan has never actually seen Buttler bat as the former was not included in the team that played in the final held at MCG in November 2022. It was more emotions than facts as Buttler plays at a strike rate of more than 140 and Razzaq. he had a strike rate of less than 120.
Azam was then asked to choose between Razzaq and Australia’s big show, Glenn Maxwell. This time, the batsman firmly picked Maxwell and it would have been a major violation if he had preferred Razzaq over the Australian.
Then came the big question when the host asked him to choose between Maxwell and stalwart Indian batsman Virat Kohli, who are currently RCB teammates. Since he had to choose the best finisher, Azam Khan again chose Maxwell and reasoned that Kohli is a top-order batsman who also opens for the Bengaluru-based team. Of course, Azam was not there when Virat Kohli finished off the clash between India and Pakistan in the group stage of the T20 WC 2022.
He was then asked to choose between Maxwell and West Indies power batsman Andre Russell. This time Azam chose Russell before again choosing the Jamaican instead of New Zealander Glenn Phillips. Then came the name of cricket’s first Mr. 360, South Africa’s AB de Villiers, and to no one’s surprise, Azam chose the former Proteas captain over the next pick, Ben Stokes too.
MS Dhoni is Azam’s best finishing choice
The host saved the best question for last as Azam Khan had to make the final choice between India’s greatest ever captain MS Dhoni and De Villiers. The question absolutely baffled the Islamabad United goalkeeper, who even exclaimed, “This is a tough question.”
The 26-year-old paused briefly to think before naming MS Dhoni as his top finisher choice. “Tough, but as a finalist I would 100% choose MS Dhoni,” Azam Khan told Cricwick.
AB de Villiers❓ Virat Kohli❓ MS Dhoni❓
Azam Khan picks the best finisher in cricket 👀#HBLPSL9 #PSL2024 pic.twitter.com/cPbE9AH3eg
– CricWick (@CricWick) February 26, 2024