PCB fat shaming Azam Khan in Army Training Camp? Pakistan board leaks details of Tests failed by wicketkeeper-batsman

Pakistan’s wicket-keeper batsman Azam Khan struggled to pass a fitness test that included a 2-kilometer run on day 2 of the National camp, which is underway at the Army regiment area of Kakul. The camp is being organized for the chief selectors to determine the squad for their upcoming home T20I series against New Zealand, the away series in England as well as the ICC T20 World Cup later this June.

The Kakul training camp consists of a total of 29 players across the nation and it has also seen the return of players like Mohammed Amir and Imad Wasim. The PCB has also called up some fresh and talented youth players who shined in the recently concluded PSL 9. While all the players are grinding it out for selection in Pakistan’s upcoming assignments, it seems as if Azam Khan won’t be cutting.

According to various reports coming from the Kakul training camp, Azam Khan failed to complete the entire 2-kilometer run on the second day of the camp. The wicket-keeper batsman who won the recently concluded PSL 9 edition with Islamabad United, was able to cover only 1 and a half kilometers distance, that too in a lengthy duration of 20 minutes.

Azam Khan chokes while newcomer Irfanullah Khan Niazi shines in the running test

Azam Khan had not only won the PSL 9 title but he was also adjudged as the best wicket-keeper of the tournament for his nifty glovework. However, his failure to complete the 2 km run comes across as a shocker, given the fact that he has represented the Pakistan national side on 8 occasions.

As he failed to cover the entire distance, newcomer Irfanullah Khan Niazi turned out to be the best performer on the running test. He managed to cover the entire distance within 6 minutes and 47 seconds and also maintained a considerable advantage over the other players including senior figures like Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi among others.

The same report that stated Azam Khan struggled during the run, also revealed the scores of all the other players. Rizwan finished the run within 8 minutes and 26 seconds, whereas Mohammad Haris, Naseem Shah, Haseebullah, and Mohmmad Wasim Jr. completed the task by 8 minutes and 30 seconds.

Pakistan’s captain in the shortest format Shaheen Afridi took 8 minutes and 37 seconds, and Mehran Mumtaz took 8 minutes and 30 seconds. The likes of Agha Salman, Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz completed their runs by 9 minutes and 20 seconds, 9 minutes and 30 seconds, 9 minutes and 56 seconds, and 9 minutes and 57 seconds respectively.

There were 4 senior absentees too in the camp. Imad Wasim, who was recently called up by the PCB for the T20 World Cup in June was not there due to his knee injury. Explosive batter Fakhar Zaman and right-arm fast bowler Haris Rauf missed the camp due to the injuries they picked up in PSL 9. Lastly, star batter Babar Azam could not participate because he visited Saudi Arabia.

What next for Azam Khan?

Azam Khan’s failure indicates that he may find it very difficult to break into the Pakistani squad for the New Zealand series. With his fitness being a major issue, the 25-year-old doesn’t even boast of a good record from the matches he has played for the Green Army. In all of his 8 T20Is against New Zealand, England, Afghanistan, and West Indies, Azam has failed to score over 10 runs.

He will now be hoping to impress the selectors in the next rounds of the camp and that remains as his only chance to stage a return.