Azam Khan, a 23-year old wicketkeeper batsman who is currently playing in the Caribbean Premier League has been called up for Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad. Azam made his international debut against England earlier this year and since then he has only played 3 games under Sarfaraz Ahmed.
However, with an almost 150 career strike rate at just around 27 years of age, it seems as if that will be enough to save him from being axed by the selectors even though Sarfaraz was recently dropped due to poor form.
The 15-member squad also sees the return of Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah to the T20 lineup with selectors opting for more firepower in a line up that had issues in middle order. Both last played February earlier this year against Zimbabwe, while Sharjeel Khan and Fakhar Zaman haven’t been picked but are part traveling reserves including Usman Qadir and Shahnawaz Dahani who aren’t on showpiece event team sheet either .
Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Junior has been preferred over Faheem Ashraf due to his pace and ability to hit big shots. This combination will prove beneficial for the team as they are looking forward with a lot of aggression in their batting lineup, especially against spinners.”
As Pakistan gears up for one-day internationals (ODIs) at home starting later this month, coach Mickey Arthur is confident that Azam Khan’s aggressive style can help him click alongside Sarfaraz Ahmed who prefers playing under pressure situations better than being an attacking threat himself. As far as bowling goes, Mohammad Wasim Jr.’s fast pace adds depth while Iftikhar Ahmad makes way because he lacks experience on the field which could lead them into trouble