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