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Azam Khan Only Pakistan Batter To Feature In A List Comprising SKY, Maxwell, Pollard

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Azam scored 22 runs vs NZ T20Is (x.com)

After succumbing to a series loss against New Zealand in T20Is, Pakistan made a strategic decision to exclude their young wicketkeeper-batter, Azam Khan, for the fourth match of the five-game series on Friday. 

At Azam's expense, Sahibzada Farhan was brought in, but unfortunately, the move didn't yield positive results as Farhan managed to contribute only 1 run while batting at number five.  

Azam played in the first three T20Is, but his performance was lacklustre, accumulating only 22 runs with a disappointing average of 7.33. Despite entering the series with a reputation for playing aggressive shots, Azam fell short of meeting expectations. 

The wicket-keeper batter has gained recognition as a T20 globetrotter. Over the last four years in T20 cricket, only 12 batters who have batted at number four or below, amassed 2000-plus runs with a batting average of 25-plus and a strike rate of 145-plus. 

Among these elite performers, Azam Khan stands out as the lone Pakistani, sharing the list with notable names such as Suryakumar Yadav, Glenn Maxwell, Kieron Pollard, Marcus Stoinis, Liam Livingstone, and others.


Despite his success in franchise cricket, Azam has encountered challenges in adapting to the demands of international cricket. The son of former Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan, the 25-year-old made his return to the T20I side for the New Zealand series after featuring in two games against Afghanistan early last year. However, his recent performances have been underwhelming, with scores of 10, 2, and 10, averaging a mere 7.33.

In addition to cricketing concerns, Azam has faced criticism for his physical fitness, having been scrutinised for being overweight. Despite shedding 30 kilograms in the last 12 months through rigorous efforts, he now faces scrutiny for his lacklustre batting performances in international cricket.