Moin Khan Criticises PCB's Handling of Son Azam Khan's Cricket Career

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Former Pakistan Test captain Moin Khan has expressed concerns about his son Azam Khan's confidence, attributing its decline to the treatment he received over the years.

Moin specifically blamed former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja for negatively impacting Azam's career.

Moin, who himself was a wicketkeeper-batter, observed all the matches Pakistan played during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Americas. He confidently stated that his son was the best fit for the role of wicketkeeper and batter.

"I watched the entire World Cup and the matches leading up to it, and it seemed like Azam was the number one choice for wicket-keeping and batting. Then suddenly, after just one match, the entire strategy was changed," said Moin.

Azam's Performance and Fan Reactions

Azam faced significant criticism from fans regarding his fitness, especially after a golden duck against the United States team in T20 World Cup 2024. This performance did not sit well with Pakistani supporters, leading to his exclusion from the subsequent match against India.

"Azam wasn't given a chance to keep wickets after one match and was dropped after getting out on the very first ball against USA. Any player can get out on the first ball, but here the tradition of developing players that used to exist is no longer there," Moin remarked.

Moin also mentioned that quick changes in team strategy hinder player development. "Whether it's the captain or the management, if they make such quick changes to players, how can we produce good players?" he questioned.

Blame on Ramiz Raja

Moin held Ramiz Raja accountable for Azam's career setbacks, stating that Raja dropped Azam from the 2021 T20 World Cup squad as soon as he became PCB chairman. "At that time, if the chief selector had made a wrong selection, he should have been removed, but they didn't have the courage, and as a result, they demoralised a young player," Moin said.

However, Moin acknowledged that not all blame lies with team management and the captain. He admitted that Azam has his own shortcomings and needs to become physically and mentally stronger by following the fitness routines of other sportsmen.

Efforts to Improve Fitness

Moin noted that Azam has been working hard to improve his fitness over the past month with his trainer Shehzar Mohammad. "For the past month or so, I've noticed he's been working hard to improve his fitness with his trainer Shehzar Mohammad, even taking him along to the Caribbean League. I hope Azam has learned a lot from this experience," he added.

Support for Shaheen Afridi

Moin expressed strong support for Shaheen Afridi as white-ball captain. He believes Afridi is highly liked by players and is an excellent choice for T20 captaincy. "Shaheen Afridi has the ability to lead the team and is highly liked by the players. He is an excellent choice for captaincy in T20s. In white-ball cricket, I don't see anyone else suitable for the role," opined Moin.

Moin also advocated for having one captain across all formats of cricket. He felt that conflicts among players are common and frequent changes in leadership affect team performance.

"Players may not listen to their captain if there are constant changes. If the cricket board provides full support to the captain and assures them of long-term responsibility, the team's performance will improve," he added.

Moin concluded by emphasising that stability in leadership is crucial for improving team performance and fostering player development within Pakistan cricket.