Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan has criticized the Pakistan selectors and team management for their handling of his son, Azam Khan. According to Moin, Azam’s confidence has suffered due to inconsistent opportunities in the national team.
T20 World Cup Controversy
Moin pointed to the recent T20 World Cup held in the West Indies and the USA as a key example. Azam’s only appearance in the tournament was the opening match against the USA, where he played as a wicketkeeper-batter and was dismissed for a duck on the very first ball. He was subsequently dropped, with Mohammad Rizwan taking over the wicketkeeping duties.
“I watched the entire World Cup and the lead-up matches, and it seemed like Azam was the primary choice for both wicketkeeping and batting,” Moin told Cricket Pakistan. “Then suddenly, after just one match, the entire strategy was changed.”
Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament, after winning two games and losing to the USA and India, did not help the situation. Moin lamented that Azam was not given another chance to prove himself and was dropped after a single match. He criticized the current approach, noting that it contrasts sharply with the past tradition of developing players through consistent opportunities.
Fitness and Improvement Efforts
Azam has faced criticism throughout his career for his fitness. While Moin acknowledged some of the valid points made about his son’s fitness, he also highlighted that Azam has been diligently working to improve. “He has been working hard with his trainer Shehzar Mohammad, even taking him to the Caribbean Premier League. I hope this experience has been valuable for him,” Moin said.
Support for Shaheen Shah Afridi
Moin Khan also expressed strong support for Shaheen Shah Afridi as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. Shaheen had briefly taken over as T20I captain following Babar Azam’s resignation after the ODI World Cup in India. However, Babar was reinstated after just one series.
“Shaheen Afridi has the ability to lead and is highly respected by the players. He is an excellent choice for T20 captaincy,” Moin stated. He also advocated for having one captain across all formats, suggesting that frequent leadership changes could negatively impact team performance. “Players might not fully support their captain if there are constant changes. If the cricket board provides unwavering support and assures long-term responsibility, the team’s performance will improve.”
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