New Delhi. Pakistan’s Azam Khan does not look like an international cricketer at first glance. Azam, who weighs around 110 kg, is part of the Pakistan cricket team participating in the T20 World Cup 2024. 25-year-old Azam is a wicketkeeper batsman and is famous for hitting strong shots. His identity does not end here. Azam is the son of Pakistan’s legendary wicketkeeper Moin Khan. It has often been alleged that he gets a place in the Pakistan team only because of his father’s influence.
Although Azam has played explosive innings in various T20 leagues including Pakistan Super League (PSL), his bat has remained silent in the 13 T20 Internationals so far. In such a situation, critics are raising questions about his place in the T20 World Cup team. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has even said that on the criteria of fitness, I would not even let Azam come close to the team. Afridi said that Azam’s hitting is tremendous but the ball will stay low on the slow pitch of West Indies. In such a situation, as a wicketkeeper, he may have to struggle to bend down and collect the ball.
‘…who has selected him in the Pakistan team..’
Not only Afridi, Azam has also become a subject of joke for Pakistani fans due to poor fitness and bulky physique. People say that Azam is not able to keep his body in shape while wicketkeeping and he is the weak link. Azam could not score runs in the recent T20 series against England. He also dropped some catches while wicketkeeping. In such a situation, critics criticized this Pakistani player as well as the selector who selected him. Many memes have also been made on Azam. One user even wrote, ‘He (Azam) cannot even walk fast, in such a situation who has selected him in the Pakistan team?’ For his flabby body, he has also been given funny names like Aloo, Laddu, Hathi and Big Boy.
Although fans may be questioning Azam’s inclusion in the T20 World Cup team due to his heavy body, some heavyweight cricketers have already been a part of this big tournament.
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Let’s take a look at the heavyweight cricketers who have participated in the T20 World Cup
Mohammad Shahzad of Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s Mohammad Shahzad and Azam have some similarities. Both weigh more than 100 kg and play as wicketkeepers. 37-year-old Shahzad has also been famous for explosive batting. Shahzad, who is 5 feet 3 inches tall, has scored 69 runs in two Tests, 2727 in 84 ODIs and 2048 runs in 73 T20Is. He has also scored six centuries in ODIs and one in T20Is. Shahzad has been part of the Afghan team in 5 T20 World Cups (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2021) and has scored 402 runs (two half-centuries) in 19 matches at an average of 21.25. In this tournament, 8 catches and five stumpings are also registered in his name as a wicketkeeper.
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Jesse Ryder of New Zealand
Jesse Ryder has been in the news not only for his obesity but also for his performance. Apart from being a great left-handed batsman, he was also a medium pace bowler. As the opener of the Kiwi team, Jesse played 18 Tests, 48 ODIs and 22 T20Is. He scored 1269 runs with the help of three centuries in Test cricket, 1362 runs with the help of three centuries in ODIs and 457 runs with the help of three half-centuries in T20s. He was adept at playing every kind of shot. Unfortunately, Jesse’s international career lasted only from 2008 to 2024. Apart from his heavy body, his name also came into the headlines due to his spoiled nature and ‘alcoholism’. He was part of the New Zealand team in the 2009 and 2010 T20 World Cups. In the 2009 T20 WC held in England, he played one match against Scotland and scored 31 runs, while in the 2010 tournament, he scored 93 runs (highest 42 runs) in five matches. Ryder’s weight was more than 100 kg at one time, after losing 10 kg, he made his debut in ODI International.
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Samit Patel of England
Indian-origin Samit Patel played six Tests, 36 ODIs and 18 T20 matches for England. This heavy-bodied cricketer was useful as a leg spinner along with hitting the ball hard. Unfortunately, he did not get much success in international cricket. Patel has 151 runs and 7 wickets in Tests, 482 runs and 24 wickets in ODIs and 189 runs and 7 wickets in T20Is. Samit’s name came into the limelight when he was not given a place in the England team for the 2011 World Cup due to being overweight and poor fitness. However, later he got a place in the England team for the 2012 T20 World Cup. Apart from scoring 67 runs in 3 matches, he also took two wickets.
Interestingly, during this period, Samit’s highest score was 67 which he made in the match against Sri Lanka. In the match against Afghanistan, Samit remained unbeaten without scoring any runs, while in the match against West Indies, he did not get a chance to bat. Samit, who played cricket at Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 level for England, had once alleged that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) did not handle his overweight issue properly. According to reports, during the 2011 World Cup (ODI), Samit’s weight was around 100 kg.
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Andrew Flintoff of England
England’s Andrew Flintoff, who has tremendous cricketing skills, has also received media attention for his spoiled nature, drinking habit and obesity. Flintoff, who is tall and has a heavy body, is considered one of the top all-rounders in the world. This cricketer, who is capable of changing the course of any match with his batting and bowling, played 79 Tests, 141 ODIs and 7 T20Is for England. He has 3845 runs and 226 wickets in Test cricket, 3394 runs and 169 wickets in ODIs and 76 runs and 5 wickets in T20s. Popularly known as ‘Freddie’, Flintoff’s obesity was the result of a type of eating disorder which is linked with mental health. In an interview, Flintoff had said, ‘I was struggling with the eating disorder Bulimia. I faced many mental problems during my playing days. I used to feel guilty about gaining weight after eating. I was known as a fat cricketer. After being trolled by the media for my fitness and obesity, I felt that everyone’s eyes were on me.’ In the last phase of his cricket career, Flintoff was part of the England team for the 2007 T20 World Cup. In the 5 matches of the tournament, he scored 70 runs and took 5 wickets. Yuvraj Singh’s anger was directed at Stuart Broad after a spat with Flintoff in the much talked about India-England match of the T20 World Cup 2007. Yuvi created history by hitting six sixes in Broad’s over.
Tags: Azam Khan, ICC T20 world cup, Pakistan cricket team, T20 World Cup
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 6, 2024, 08:16 IST