"Ramiz Raja dropped him" - Moin Khan blames ex-PCB chairman for Azam Khan's absence from 2021 T20 World Cup squad
Former Pakistan keeper-batter Moin Khan has come out in support of his son Azam Khan amid his struggles in international cricket. The former cricketer blamed ex-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja for dropping Azam ahead of the 2021 T20 World Cup and feels lack of continuity in selection is the reason behind player's curtailed development.
Azam, who made his international debut in July 2021, has struggled at the highest level. The 26-year-old has managed only 88 runs in 14 T20Is, averaging a dismal 8.8 with a best of 30. He has come under widespread criticism, especially for his fitness levels.
Speaking to Cricket Pakistan, Moin said dropping Azam from the 2021 T20 World Cup squad demoralized him, elaborating:
"In the 2022 (2021) World Cup, Azam was also selected for the team, but Ramiz Raja dropped him. At that time, if the chief selector had made a wrong selection, he should have been removed, but they didn't have the courage, and as a result, they demoralized a young player. In this World Cup as well, you can see how he was played."
The 52-year-old questioned the selectors' logic behind dropping Azam after only one match in this year's T20 World Cup despite him seeming to be the first-choice keeper-batter.
"I watched the entire World Cup and the matches leading up to it, and it seemed like Azam was the number one choice for wicketkeeping and batting. Then suddenly, after just one match, the entire strategy was changed. Azam wasn't given a chance to keep wickets after one match and was dropped after getting out on the very first ball."
In Pakistan's shocking loss to the USA, the right-hander was trapped lbw off the first ball he faced. He was dropped for the remaining matches against India, Canada and Ireland.
"He needs to make himself physically and mentally stronger" - Moin Khan on Azam Khan
Nevertheless, Moin stressed on the need for the 26-year-old to improve his fitness levels and bring them on par with the world's best athletes. He explained:
"I'm not saying that all the blame lies with the team management and the captain; Azam has his own shortcomings too. He needs to make himself physically and mentally stronger, follow the fitness routines of other sportsmen. For the past month or so, I’ve noticed he’s been working hard to improve his fitness with his trainer Shehzar Mohammad, even taking him along to the Caribbean League."
Moin added:
"Any player can get out on the first ball, but here the tradition of developing players that used to exist is no longer there. Whether it's the captain or the management, if they make such quick changes to players, how can we produce good players?"
Azam is currently in the West Indies playing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL 2024.