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Mohammad Hafeez (Source-X)
Pakistan cricketer Azam Khan has been in the eye of the storm in the last two days. The 25-year-old has been called out for his fitness issues by many fans. Azam Khan was spotted enjoying gorging on street food just a few days ago. This led to a huge outrage amongst the fans on social media.
Former Pakistani skipper Mohammad Hafeez revealed during his chat on a TV show that he had warned the young player to manage his fitness. Azam Khan was recently called out for his dropped catches against England just before the T20 World Cup.
Azam Khan is the son of former Pakistani skipper and World Cup winner Moin Khan. The 25-year-old is an explosive batter just like his father but his work behind the stumps and his entire fitness regime has become a huge topic of discussion.
Mohammad Hafeez recounts warning to Azam Khan
Pakistan Cricket team are on the verge of elimination from the T20 World Cup. Their entire campaign has been blighted with inconsistency and reports of rift in the team. Azam Khan’s street food sojourn has added more fuel to the fire.
Mohammad Hafeez during a chat show said how he had told the youngster to watch his fitness to play for the national side. Hafeez said “If you want to play cricket for Pakistan, you must do two things. First, you have to try your best to get physically fit, which is the requirement at the international level. Second whenever you get an opportunity, you have to perform”
The former Pakistan skipper also said “I also want you to work hard on your wicket-keeping abilities because with your current fitness, you can’t do fielding. I connected Azam Khan with the incumbent fitness trainer and shared all the plans with him. After allotting him a 6-week program, when Azam Khan appeared, he was still at the same body weight and fat level as he was before”
A visibly irate Mohammad Hafeez said that Azam Khan didn’t show the commitment needed to be a top level player. His weight issues and attitude towards fitness meant that Hafeez had to put in a word to the selectors after his detailed report about the player. Meanwhile, Pakistan will play their final Group A game against Ireland on Sunday with qualification resting on the hands of the weather and USA cricket team.