T20 World Cup 2024: Azam Khan's Pakistan Selection is 'Favouritism' Says Former Pak Bowler

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Former Pakistan cricketer Sarfaraz Nawaz has stirred controversy by questioning the selection of Azam Khan in the Pakistan cricket team for the T20 World Cup 2024, citing favoritism as the driving factor behind his inclusion.

The 75-year-old retired cricketer's vocal criticism stemmed from his belief that Khan's presence in the team was a result of nepotism, casting aspersions on the impartiality and transparency of the selection process.

Sarfaraz Nawaz, who played 55 Tests for 45 ODIs for Pakistan between 1969-1984, highlighted the involvement of Nadeem Khan, the Director of Sports, in the alleged favouritism, lamenting the prevalence of such biases in the team's composition.

"Azam Khan is there due to favouritism; what can we do when there's favouritism here and there? Nadeem Khan, the Director of Sports, is also involved. These kinds of favouritism should not have been there from the start," Nawaz was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

He expressed his conviction that Sahibzada Farhan, a top-order batter with a promising PSL season for Lahore Qalandars, was a more deserving candidate for inclusion in the squad, underscoring the discrepancy between merit-based selection and the influence of external factors.

Moreover, Nawaz raised concerns about the team's decision to overlook Aamer Jamal, an all-rounder who showcased commendable performances in Australia. He emphasised Jamal's potential as a match-winner, questioning the management's failure to nurture and develop his talent, thereby highlighting a perceived oversight in talent recognition and development within the team.

"I would say that Sahibzada Farhan should have been in the team; he was the most deserving. Then, in Australia, you took an all-rounder, Aamer Jamal. Why didn't you develop him? He gave such a good performance there, and he can bowl with good speed and bat bravely. He could have been a match-winner.

"I am surprised that you are choosing only two all-rounders: Shadab (Khan) and Imad (Wasim). If you think having just two all-rounders is enough, then the team cannot run like this," he concluded.

The cricketer's remarks extended to the team's composition, specifically targeting the limited number of all-rounders, expressing surprise at the exclusion of players like Sahibzada Farhan and Aamer Jamal.

He underscored the necessity of a balanced squad, particularly in the context of a high-stakes tournament like the T20 World Cup, emphasizing the pivotal role that all-rounders play in shaping the team's performance and resilience.

Azam Khan's selection, despite facing criticism for his performance and fitness on social media, was a point of contention raised by Nawaz. While Khan's association with Islamabad United, the victorious team of the Pakistan Super League 2024, showcased his potential, Nawaz's reservations about his selection underscored the complex interplay of performance, influence, and public scrutiny in the realm of professional cricket.

Nawaz's outspoken critique has reignited discussions surrounding the transparency and integrity of player selection in the Pakistan cricket team, shedding light on the multifaceted considerations that underpin the composition of a competitive and balanced squad for international tournaments.

This unvarnished commentary by Sarfaraz Nawaz has sparked a conversation about the principles of fairness and meritocracy in the selection process, igniting a debate about the underlying dynamics that shape the composition of national cricket teams and the imperative of upholding the integrity of such decisions.