In a significant decision, Pakistan has excluded wicket-keeper batsman Azam Khan from the team for the highly anticipated T20 World Cup match against India, sources confirmed to Geo News. Azam’s poor performance and fitness issues led to his ouster, with all-rounder Imad Wasim replacing him in the lineup.
Azam’s struggles on the field, including a duck against the USA, and his lack of physical fitness, had drawn criticism from fans and experts alike. Despite making his international debut three years ago, Azam has failed to impress, scoring only 88 runs in 14 innings.
Imad Wasim, who has been recovering from an injury, has been declared fit by head coach Gary Kirsten and will feature in the match against India. The team has finalized its playing XI, which includes four fast bowlers, two all-rounders, and a spinner.
Captain Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Muhammad Amir, and Naseem Shah are the selected players.
Azam’s exclusion was hinted at by Imam Ul Haq, who stated that a player couldn’t continue to play without performing well, especially in the era of social media. Fans had also expressed their disappointment over Azam’s selection and the team’s performance in the recent match against the USA.
The match between Pakistan and India is scheduled to take place in New York, with high expectations from both teams.
