Tag: Azam Khan

KARACHI: Let down by the trolls and hate-filled comments on social media, Islamabad United’s wicket-keeper batter, Azam Khan, expressed his resolve to remain undeterred in the face of ‘negative energy’.

Taking to Twitter, Azam, known for his prowess to hit big shots, shared a heartfelt message along with a screen grab of his Instagram story, which he posted a few days ago.

“Always waking up to new challenges every day, particularly with so much negative energy on social media. ” he wrote. “But the goal remains the same, playing the game I love at the highest level and working every day to become the best cricketer I can ever be,Inshallah ameen.”

https://twitter.com/MAzamKhan45/status/1615976177486958592

On his Instagram story, Azam decried the name-calling culture by posting an image containing the demeaning labels hurled at him for his physical appearance and alleged nepotism.

The 24-year-old gained prominence during the 2018 Pakistan Super League when he was picked by Quetta Gladiators, where his father and former Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Moin Khan was a head coach. Fans were outraged at his selection in the team, believing that Azam’s selection was a blatant nepotism and his bulky physique made him the target of derogatory social media trolls.

Azam, however, earned a name for himself in Twenty20 cricket since then and emerged as one of the most sought-after players in franchise leagues all around the world. He also made his international debut for Pakistan in 2021 against England in Nottingham.

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KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan opined regarding his son Azam Khan’s comeback to the national side and claimed that the latter’s job is to perform silently.

Moin, while talking to this reporter here responded to a question regarding his son Azam’s comeback to the national side and asserted that Azamr’s duty is to perform without uttering a word while also claiming to be unaware of his son’s return.

“Azam’s job is to perform quietly,” said Moin.

“Now, whether the chief selector or Azam himself knows about his return to the national side,” he added.

The former captain then commented on the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in Australia and the national team’s ongoing middle-order woes and stated the conditions would not be too favourable for the men in green.

“Pakistan’s performance is improving but the middle-order needs to work hard. The conditions in Australia are going to be tough for Pakistan so it’s going to be a real test for them,” Moin said.

Moin then once again went on to highlight the issue of the team’s slower strike rate and also commented on Mohammad Rizwan’s reply to his statement by stating, “It’s good if Rizwan replied to my statement.

“But again I would say that in modern-day cricket if you don’t have all the shots, it would hurt the team.

“The opposing teams then will not let you score freely if you only play only on one side.”

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KARACHI: Right-handed explosive batter Azam Khan became the first Pakistan cricketer to be signed by the newly-introduced cash-rich league of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The hard-hitting batter will represent the Glazer Family promoted Desert Vipers as the franchise acquired the services of Azam for the inaugural edition of International League T20.

Following his signing with the ILT20 franchise, Azam became the first Pakistan cricketer to be recruited by the UAE league, which sparked a controversy regarding posing a threat to international cricket.

Taking to Twitter, Desert Vipers also confirmed the signing of Pakistan hard-hitting batter Azam and termed it an exciting addition to the side.

“Pakistan [wicketkeeper-batter] Azam Khan is an exciting addition to Desert Vipers!” the ILT20 franchise wrote.

“He is one of the world’s best players of spin in T20 cricket, averaging 35 with a strike rate of 160 against slower bowlers – Azam is ideally suited to attacking those middle overs for [Desert Vipers],” the caption added.

https://twitter.com/TheDesertVipers/status/1560638235105038336

 

Earlier, Azam has also been granted a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for participating in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The right-handed batter will represent Barbados Royals in the league, set to commence on September 1.

Azam has played three T20Is for Pakistan and has represented Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators in the PSL, Overseas Warriors in Kashmir Premier League, and Galle Gladiators in Lanka Premier League.

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KARACHI: Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim will represent Jamaica Tallawahs in the forthcoming Caribbean Premier League 2022, scheduled to commence on August 31.

The league will feature four Pakistan players including Imad, Amir, Azam Khan, and Qasim Akram.

The left-arm pacer Amir, who represented Barbados Royal in the previous season, will be joining countrymate all-rounder Imad in Jamaica Tallawahs as the latter has been retained by the franchise.

Explosive wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan will represent Barbados Royal in the second consecutive season, having made his debut for the team in 2021.

Meanwhile, young all-rounder Qasim Akram will represent St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the forthcoming season and will be acting as the substitute for Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who will be unavailable to the team for the first few matches.

The league, which features six teams, will commence on August 31, while the final will be contested on September 30.

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KARACHI: Wicket-keeper batsman Azam Khan hopes that there will be no added pressure of being called ‘Parchi‘ as he will play for Islamabad United in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 7. 

Speaking to a local channel, Khan said playing for United will be a whole new opportunity for him. “People used to call me PARCHI because my father was the head coach of Quetta Gladiators,” he said.

“But now I am picked by a different franchise, under a different coaching staff, this is a new experience for me and I’ll surely be free from that added pressure,” the young cricketer added.

Meanwhile, Azam is determined to continue working on his fitness. “I will be focused on my fitness and try to improve every single day. I will play for United as a local wicket-keeper batter and this will provide me a chance to exhibit my talent,” Azam concluded.

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Lahore: Chief selector Mohammad Wasim assured players, who were replaced in the T20 World Cup squad today, that they will remain in future plans post 2021 T20 World Cup.

Azam Khan, Mohammad Hasnain have been dropped for the mega event while Khushdil Shah moved to traveling reserves. Sarfaraz Ahmed, Haider Ali and Fakhar Zaman are included in the 15-member squad, replacing above mentioned players.

“It must be tough for Azam, Khushdil and Hasnain for missing out but they still have a lot to offer in their careers. They are in our future plans as a lot of cricket has to be played post the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 and in the lead up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.”

“After reviewing player performances in the highly-competitive National T20 and in consultation with the team management, we have decided to include Haider Ali, Fakhar Zaman and Sarfaraz Ahmed in the squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021.

“The three in-form players bring with them wealth of experience and talent, and provide further stability, balance and strength to the side.

Meanwhile, Wasim hailed the intensity and high quality of cricket played in National T20 Cup which helped them to finalize squad.

“The tournament as not only provided the players excellent match practice in the lead up to the UAE competition, it has also given us the opportunity to closely monitor the player progress and then make decisions that are in the best interest of the side for what will be a cut-throat tournament,” he concluded.

Read: Fakhar, Sarfaraz, Haider included in T20 World Cup squad

Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has a piece of advice for emerging hard-hitting batter Azam Khan, who is not having the best of the times in the second leg of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six.
Afridi in his tweet praised Multan Sultans for their strong comeback and told Azam to step up and show his real talent to the world.
“Great performance Shan!! Very nice to see you make good comeback. Multan Sultans playing great cricket indeed,” he wrote.
“Disappointing season for Quetta Gladiators. Azam needs to step-up and perform to show his real talent to the world and critics,” he added.

Great performance Shan!! Very nice to see you make good comeback. @MultanSultans playing great cricket indeed. Disappointing season for @TeamQuetta Azam needs to step-up and perform to show his real talent to the world and critics

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 17, 2021

It must be noted that the 22-year-old Azam has been named in the Pakistan T20I squad for tours of England and West Indies.

Read: ‘I practice hitting 100 sixes a day’ Azam Khan

 

Abu Dhabi: Former captain Moin Khan has revealed his joy after his son Azam Khan was named in the T20I squad for the tours of England and the West Indies.
The 49-year-old Moin said that the 22-year-old Azam has passed the first step of getting himself, however, he has to maintain his place in the side.
“As a father, I am thankful to Almighty Allah. Second-generation from our family is stepping in Pakistan team,” Moin said.
“Expectations have increased and Azam will have to work hard to meet expectations. It is not easy to stay in the Pakistan team as Azam would have to work hard to maintain his place,” he added.
It must be noted that Azam was in the mix to earn maiden call in Pakistan T20I side after his impressive performances in the T20I circuit.

Read: ‘I practice hitting 100 sixes a day’ Azam Khan

Karachi: Hard-hitting batsman Azam Khan, who represents the Quetta Gladiators in the PSL, says he practices hitting 100 sixes a day.
The 22-year-old Azam has been named in the Pakistan T20I squad for England and West Indies tours. He talked exclusively to ARY News where he revealed his practice regime.
“My practice is quite different. Three days of hitting while three days of maneuvering the ball. In practice, I try to hit 100 sixes in a day,” Azam said.

Read: Azam Khan recalls memory with Virat Kohli’s signed bat

“If I hit 100 in nets, I’ll be able to hit 10 to 20 in a match,” he added.
Azam said that he was being criticized heavily a year ago, however, now he has been praised for his batting.
“I was criticized a lot a year ago but when an individual works hard, people are bound to praise. I feel motivated now and try to meet the expectations of the fans,” he added.

Also read: ‘Tape-ball cricket helped me develop big-hitting’ Azam Khan

Lahore: Pakistan cricket selectors have recalled four experienced players and included uncapped Azam Khan in the squads for the tours of England and West Indies.
The side will play three ODIs and as many T20Is in England from 8-20 July, before taking on world champions West Indies in five T20Is that will be followed by two Tests.
Middle-order batsman Haris Sohail has been named in the ODI side, while Imad Wasim has returned to the T20I side. Fast bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Naseem Shah have returned to the Test side. Pacer Tabish Khan, who made his Test debut in second Test against Zimbabwe, has been sidelined.
Yasir Shah’s inclusion is subject to fitness as the wrist spinner is yet to fully recover from the knee injury that sidelined him from the Zimbabwe Tests. The selectors have retained leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood along with left-arm spinner Nauman Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan for the Jamaica Tests.
Uncapped Saud Shakeel has also reclaimed his spot after missing South Africa ODIs due to an injury. Salman Ali Agha, who has lost his Test spot, has been called-up for ODIs.
Fakhar Zaman has maintained his place in the original squad after being drafted as an additional player for Zimbabwe T20Is following a stellar performance in South Africa.
Quetta Gladiators’ Azam Khan, the 22-year-old hard-hitting batsman, is the new face in the T20I squad.

Squads:

ODIs: Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Qadir
T20Is: Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Arshad Iqbal, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sharjeel Khan and Usman Qadir
Tests: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Yasir Shah (subject to fitness) and Zahid Mahmood.

Tour itinerary:

25 June – Departure for Manchester
6 July – Arrival in Cardiff
8 July – 1^st ODI, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
10 July – 2^nd ODI, Lord’s, London
13 July – 3^rd ODI, Edgbaston, Birmingham
16 July – 1^st T20I, Trent Bridge, Nottingham
18 July – 2^nd T20I, Headingley, Leeds
20 July – 3^rd T20I, Old Trafford, Manchester
21 Jul – Arrival in Barbados
27 Jul – 1^st T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados
28 Jul – 2^nd T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados
31 Jul – 3^rd T20I, Providence Stadium, Guyana
1 Aug – 4^th T20I, Providence Stadium, Guyana
3 Aug – 5^th T20I, Providence Stadium, Guyana
6-7 Aug – Two-day practice match, Guyana
12-16 Aug – 1^st Test, Sabina Park, Jamaica
20-24 Aug – 2^nd Test, Sabina Park, Jamaica
25 Aug – Departure