Azam Khan (cricketer) History
Azam
Khan is a promising young cricketer from Pakistan who has made a name for
himself with his explosive batting and wicket-keeping skills. Born on 10th
January 1998 in Karachi, Azam comes from a cricketing family. His father, Moin
Khan, is a former Pakistan wicket-keeper who played 69 Tests and 219 ODIs for
his country.
Growing up in a cricketing environment, Azam was naturally inclined
towards the sport from an early age. He started playing cricket in his backyard
with his father and soon joined a local cricket academy to further hone his
skills. His talent did not go unnoticed and he was soon selected to represent
Karachi in the Under-19 cricket team.
Azam made his debut in domestic cricket for Karachi Kings in the 2019
Pakistan Super League. He was picked as a back-up wicket-keeper to Mohammad
Rizwan and did not get many opportunities to showcase his skills. However, his
aggressive batting style and his ability to hit big sixes caught the attention
of the cricketing fraternity.
In the same year, Azam was selected to play for the Quetta Gladiators in
the T20 Blast in England. He impressed in his debut season, scoring 150 runs in
10 matches at a strike rate of 168.54. His performance in the tournament earned
him praise from former England captain, Michael Vaughan, who tweeted,
"Azam Khan is a seriously good player...Looks a serious
player...#OnOn".
Azam continued to impress with his performances in domestic cricket and
was soon touted as a future star of Pakistan cricket. He was included in the
Pakistan squad for the Zimbabwe tour in April 2021 but did not get a chance to
play in the series.
Azam's big break came when he was selected to play for Pakistan in the
T20I series against West Indies in July 2021. He made his debut in the first
T20I and scored 14 runs off 10 balls. He also took two catches behind the
stumps, showcasing his wicket-keeping skills.
Azam's aggressive batting style and his ability to hit big sixes have
drawn comparisons with his father, Moin Khan. However, Azam has said that he
wants to create his own identity and not be known as his father's son. In an
interview with the Pakistan Cricket Board, Azam said, "I don't want to be
known as my father's son, I want to be known as Azam Khan. I want to create my
own identity and make a name for myself in cricket."
Azam's journey in cricket has not been without its share of challenges.
He has faced criticism for his fitness levels and his physique. However, he has
said that he is working hard to improve his fitness and is not bothered by the
criticism. In an interview with Cricinfo, Azam said, "I am not bothered by
what people say about my fitness or my physique. I know what I need to do to
improve and I am working hard to get there."
Azam's rise in cricket has been meteoric and he is seen as a potential
long-term replacement for Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan's wicket-keeper. He has
already shown that he has the ability to perform at the highest level and his
performances in the coming years will be closely watched by cricket enthusiasts.
Azam's performances in the Pakistan Super League have been particularly
noteworthy. He was one of the top performers in the 2020 edition of the
tournament, scoring 150 runs in 9 matches at a strike rate of 147.05. He also
took 7 catches behind the stumps. In the 2021 edition of the tournament, Azam
scored 201 runs in 13 matches
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