PAK vs CAN: Azhar Mahmood attacks media after Azam Khan gets caught consuming street food in USA

Pakistan Assistant Coach Azhar Mahmood has backed wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan for munching street food in New York during the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Azhar Mahmood reckoned that there is a life beyond cricket and players are free to enjoy their lives after the match.

Azam Khan is one of the members of the Pakistan team in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He is often trolled for being overweight. The right-handed batsman got out for a duck in the first match against the USA and was dropped from the playing 11 for the next encounter against India.

Interestingly, some journalists caught Azam Khan enjoying street foods at a food truck in New York late at night. The video of the moment was also captured and went viral on social media. Moreover, no one has denied Azam Khan’s presence in the video.

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There is life beyond cricket: Azhar Mahmood backs Pakistan players over diet plans

After the defeat against India, Pakistan Assistant Coach Azhar Mahmood addressed a press conference. During the conference, a journalist raised queries about Pakistan players’ diet plan during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 by mentioning about the incidents of eating out late at night.

Responding to the question, an irked Azhar Mahmood backed his players and said it was a good way to relax minds after losing a match. He also said there is a life of players beyond cricket.

"Did you see the match day? Brother, cricket is played on the ground. There is life beyond cricket. You were there. I'm telling you; you were there. I saw you there too. The thing is, we are a very emotional nation", the former all-rounder said.

"I mean, it's not possible that if you lose a match, your life will be over. Yes. How will you do it? If you lose a match and then you come to the room and bang the walls of the room, then you need a little time to relax your mind," the 49-year-old further added.

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Eating is like entertainment for every team, feels Mahmood

Mahmood also reckoned that when a team goes on foreign tours, eating is one of the entertainment activities for players. He also noted that if Pakistan had won both of their games, there would’ve been no questions over their diet plans.

"Now, obviously, our players are not like that. I've been with English teams, too. If they go to a place like that, you can only go to eat, that's our entertainment. Now tell me, who's not following a diet plan?"

"All the teams in the world do it. There's no such thing. When we lose, we feel that we are not following this; we are not following that. If we had won, you wouldn't be asking me this question," concluded Mahmood, who represented the Pakistan team from 1997 to 2007.

Fans trolled Azam Khan for his weight in the opening game against the USA

Meanwhile, Azam Khan was also trolled by fans inside the stadium during the opening game against the USA in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Some fans had posters that read, “Stop eating Azam Khan”. Shockingly, the Pakistan batter also noticed the posters and expressed his anger on those fans during the match.

Pakistan has lost two games in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. They will face Canada and Ireland on June 11 and June 16 respectively. Pakistan now has a very narrow chance to reach the Super 8 round.