T20 World Cup: Azam Khan - the 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batter with 88 runs in 13 T20I matches at an average of 9.77 and a strike rate of 135.38 - is part of Pakistan squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.

His Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 numbers helped him retain his place despite questions being raised over time and again. Azam Khan, who is the son of former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan, scored 226 runs in 12 matches at an average of 25.11 and a strike rate of 171.21 in PSL 2024.

Azam Khan has often made headlines with his performances in T20 leagues but has failed to do the same at the international level. After his failure and Pakistan's defeat against England in the fourth T20I, Azam Khan was in tears and was comforted by his captain Babar Azam.

However, disappointed fans did not spare him and tagged him as the 'best example of nepotism'. Pakistan have picked Azam ahead of someone like Mohammad Haris. After registering two ducks in his last five outings ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, the criticism has only increased.

Azam Khan gave four instances during the fourth T20I against England which proved why picking him in Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad was a bad move from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors.

The timidness against raw pace exposed: England pacer Mark Wood made Azam Khan look like a club cricketer when he bowled a steamy short delivery which made contact with his gloves before landing into the wicket-keeping gloves of Jos Buttler.

The dismissal was really timid in nature. Azam Khan got stuck in the crease without any foot work, and just managed to keep his face out of the line of the ball. Azam Khan neither had the technique nor the dare to play a fiery short delivery from Wood.

Dropped catch off Amir's bowling: On the second ball of the sixth over, Mohammad Amir bowled a short delivery which took an edge and went straight towards Azam Khan. It was an easy take just above his left shoulder but he failed to grab the ball as it raced past the boundary ropes.

Dropped catch off Rauf's bowling: On the second ball of the 9th over Azam Khan dropped another catch, and it was a dolly this time. The edge of Will Jack's bat went straight into the gloves of Azam Khan but he somehow managed to spill it out. He then ended up giving a bye single as his under-arm throw missed the stumps.

Dropping shoulders after missing catch: Azam Khan gave up all hopes after the two regulations catches going on. On the fifth ball of the same over, Jos Buttler's pull ricocheted towards the right of Azam after his body. However, the hopeless youngster did not even try to stop the ball as it raced past the third-man boundary. Dropping of shoulders by an international cricketer in an ongoing match was unfortunate and unacceptable.

Pakistan will be up against USA of June 1 in their first match of the T20 World Cup 2024. They failed to qualify for the semi-final of ODI World Cup 2023.