Azam Khan runs to the crease while holding his bat upside-down in PSL 2020

Quetta Gladiators have started their PSL 2020 season on a good note having won 2 out of 3 matches played so far. Their latest victory came over Karachi Kings in the match played at Karachi. The hero of the match with the ball proved to be young Mohammad Hasnain who picked three wickets for 33 runs in his four overs.

This enabled Gladiators to keep Kings to just 156/9 in 20 overs. For the Karachi franchise, Alex Hales made 29, Babar Azam made 26 and Cameron Delport and Iftikhar Ahmed also made scores in 20 each. Apart from Hasnain, Tymal Mills picked two wickets, while Sohail Khan and Mohammad Nawaz also picked a wicket each.

With the willow, it was the heroics of Shane Watson (27), skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed (37) and young Azam Khan (46), who led the team to victory with one over to spare and 5 wickets in hand. The 21-year-old right-handed batsman Azam had made a big name for himself in this season of the tournament. His performances have silenced his critics, who pointed out that he was only picked due to him being the son of former Pakistan skipper Moin Khan.

Azam Khan ridiculed for holding his bat upside-down

Azam had previously played a brilliant knock of 59 against Islamabad United as well, and now made a good score against Gladiators. Unfortunately for him, he became the centre of attraction against Gladiators by the way he completed his run. In efforts of saving himself, Azam tried to make his ground with the bat held upside down in his hands.

Here’s the video:

If you hold the bat upside down, you get to the crease early
The Legend Azam Khan#PSLV2020 pic.twitter.com/JiXsIHIeOk

— Faizan Rasul (@FaizanRasul11) February 23, 2020

The Karachi crowd had shouted ‘parchi’ at him when he walked out to bat, which is an unflattering comment on someone who has not earned their place on merit in the local language. Azam has also taken jibes on himself for his portly figure, with on-air commentator Rameez Raja calling him ‘laddu’. He even mentioned that he would ask him a question about his figure in the post-match presentation ceremony if Azam Khan won the Man of the Match award.