New Delhi: Pakistani cricketer Azam Khan, the son of former cricketer Moin Khan, is being called a ‘product of nepotism’, ‘an embarrassment to international cricket’ and his selection to the national side criminal. He found himself at the receiving end for all the wrong reasons after a lacklustre performance against England in the fourth T20I match in Kensington Oval.
After being bowled out for a duck, Khan also dropped a catch, which saw a frustrated Haris Rauf react angrily. While Rauf might have let it go, the internet refused to be kind.
The attack began following Khan’s dismissal by Mark Wood, who delivered a bouncer that the former could not manage. The ball first hit his glove, then his shoulder, before popping up into the air, ultimately leading to Jos Buttler taking an easy catch.
“No sane team will play Azam Khan again until he sorts out his fitness!” a user wrote on X.
With alternatives like Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Haris available, some fans wondered if Azam’s inclusion was justified.
“Pakistan appropriately toilet in a toilet 20/20 format. the worst depth batting side in a format curated for batting. Azam Khan is the epitome of nepotism and complete disregard for integrity. emblematic of the state of the nation. The supremo poses with watches and spoils. WASTE OF TIME”, one user wrote on X.
Azam Khan being a part of Pakistan’s national cricket team is literally a shame for us internationally, said another one. “In today’s world where fitness is a prerequisite for any athlete to be part of the game, we are still selecting the poor fat kids. nepotism at its peak. RIP Pak cricket,” the user tweeted.
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A ‘burden on team, fans’
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper and coach, Atiq-uz-Zaman went a step further to say that if Khan continues playing, he will boycott Pakistan cricket and stop watching it altogether.
“I will stop watching or following Pakistan Cricket IF Azam Khan is Pakistan’s future of wicket keeping.It’s injustice to Rizwan also..”, he said.
Another user called him a ‘burden on the team and fans’.
“Haris Rauf came from the street & has been performing as world-class bowlers (sometimes failing to live up to expectations). Azam Khan came from a gang of ex Cricketers & has become a burden on Pakistan team & fans”, the user wrote on X.
Even former cricketers, coaches and umpires weighed in and called out his subpar performance.
British umpire Richard Kettleborough also questioned Khan’s form and tweeted, “What’s the criteria to get selected in Pakistan T20 Side, as I have never seen Azam Khan perform in big matches”.
Many others quoted Shahid Afridi’s earlier interview to Samaa TV where he had said that he would not let Khan come anywhere near the team with his fitness levels.
Former cricketer Tanveer Ahmed also criticised his selection and said that making Khan play with this form is nothing less than a joke and the selectors should be held accountable.
Khan has been courting controversies in the recent past for his form and actions. He was criticised earlier in May after a video of his went viral in which he could be seen wiping his face with a dollar note.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)