Azam Khan loses 30 kgs weight in 12 months to earn maiden Pakistan call-up

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Test, ODI and T20I squads on Friday for the national team’s upcoming England and West Indies tours. Uncapped hard-hitting batsman Azam Khan was the only player across three squads to earn a maiden call-up. He has been included in the T20I team as Pakistan will be playing three and five matches respectively in England and West Indies in the shortest format.

However, it hasn’t been easy for Azam Khan at all. Son of former Pakistan cricketer Moin Khan, Azam has been on the selectors since the last Pakistan Super League (PSL) season thanks to his ability to smash the ball from the word go. In the first leg of the PSL 2021, he has scored 98 runs in five matches batting down the order at a teriffic strike-rate of around 144.

Even in the previous edition, he had scored 150 runs in nine outings but at a strike-rate of over 130. All this had led to selectors getting impressed with the 22-year-old. However, his fitness became the hindrance then for him not getting a national call-up. Then how did Azam Khan make it to the national squad this time around?

Well, the cricketer worked hard to his fitness, and according to Dawn, he shed 30 kgs weight over the last 12 months. He was weighing around 130 kg before, however, Azam himself claims to have lost the said weight and his efforts have paid off finally.

Azam Khan plays for Quetta Gladiators

Azam Khan features for Quetta Gladiators in the PSL and is currently in Abu Dhabi where the second leg of the tournament is set to be played from June 9. Having played the finisher’s role so far, Azam will be keen on gaining more confidence ahead of his maiden tours to England and West Indies.

As far as his career is concerned, Azam has played 36 T20 matches scoring 743 at an impeccable strike-rate of 157.41 with four half-centuries. He has hit 45 sixes to go with 67 fours so far in this career.