Out-of-favour wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan has claimed that his batting numbers as a T20 finisher are currently unmatched in Pakistan cricket and has urged the selectors to give him a long run.
Since making his T20I debut in 2021, Azam has played just eight matches, with his last chance coming in the New Zealand series in January. Azam played in his first three T20Is, scoring just 22 runs at an average of 7.33 and was ruled out for the remaining two matches. He was dropped five times in his short career.
In an interview with
Kriwick, Azam Khan regretted not having the opportunity to play for Pakistan and claimed that he was made a “scapegoat”.
“For me, the team always comes first. When one person is made the scapegoat in a team game, I get a little angry,” Aza said.
“It’s frustrating sometimes. Yes, I deserve a chance. In the last five years, I made three comebacks for the Pakistan team,” he continued.
“There is no player who can match my batting numbers in Pakistan’s No. 5 and No. 6 positions,” Azam claimed. “He is the only 12 batsman in his T20 cricket to have averaged more than 25 runs and had a strike rate of more than 145 runs in the last four years.
He also mentions a memo listing names that support his claims.
“The complete list includes Tim David, Glenn Phillips, Glenn Maxwell, Nicholas Pooran, Azam Khan, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Harry Brook, Suryakumar Yadav, Marcus Stoinis. , Liam Livingston, and Heinrich Claassen.
“If I’m one of the great T20 players in terms of average and strike rate and I’m not confident, it becomes a problem financially because the pace of cricket has become so fast. No, because there are so many leagues.” “Cricket tournaments.” I know there is a chance to earn money, but I want to play for Pakistan. ”
To put things into perspective, Azam has the fifth-highest strike rate (149.95) among No. 5 and No. 6 batsmen who have scored at least 1,700 runs at a cut-off average of 25. Above him are Maxwell (2393 runs, 26.88 and 150.12), Claassen (1709 runs, 28.48 and 150.44), David (3226 runs, 31.62 and 163.75) and Russell (4510 runs, 25.33 and 171.41).
Azam has never played more than three consecutive T20Is and a full series. Despite his commendable domestic performance, his T20I return still leaves much to be desired. He asked his selection team to give him a chance to prove himself at international level.
“If they give me long runs and I don’t perform, I have no problem with Pakistan dropping me. I have performed well in domestic cricket and in different leagues. “By doing this, we try to find a way to get there,” he concluded.
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