Pakistan’s experienced all-rounder Imad Wasim will replace young middle-order batsman Azam Khan in the highly-anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 match against India as New York braces for cricket’s hottest rivalry today.
The development occurs after Azam was dismissed for naught in the game against the United States, and he also failed to impress in his prior undertakings for the national T20I team.
Both his on-field performance and physical fitness have drawn harsh criticism for the 25-year-old cricket player.
Meanwhile, as confirmed by Pakistan Head Coach Gary Kirsten on Saturday, Imad was fit and would play the game in New York.
Imad has been staying on the sidelines since the T20I series against England which was played last month but he is set to feature against the arch-rivals.
"Imad Wasim will be available for the match against India,” Kirsten confirmed in a presser. “We will make a comeback."
The sources told Geo News that Pakistan have finalised their minus-Azam playing-XI for the India match and decided to enter the arena with four fast bowlers, two all-rounders, and a spinner.
The playing squad, as per the sources, includes captain Babar Azam, wicket-keeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan, batsman Usman Khan, left-handed batter Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Imad, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Muhammad Amir and Naseem Shah.
The sources also added that skipper Babar and coach Kirsten have “lost trust in Azam as he was not given to play a single ball during the net practice”.
The sources said Azam stood in isolation while the practice underwent.
The son of legendary wicket-keeper Moin Khan is yet to make a mark in T20I from the national side despite making his international debut three years ago in July 2021. He has appeared in 14 innings for Pakistan but could score only 88 runs.
A day earlier,Imam defended Azam amid trolling on social media, saying that a cricketer is unable to perform well in the matches because of the trolling on social media.
Imam, citing Azam's dismal performance in back-to-back matches, said one could not play six games in a row without a good performance as social media warriors instantly blasted it.
After Pakistan-US match, cricket fans expressed their disappointment over the Green Shirts' performance and the team's selection on Thursday.
Speaking to Geo News after the match, the fans were frustrated over the loss and especially over Azam's selection in the same.
"We have been so much disappointed. Azam Khan has no place in the team but they are still including him. He doesn't know fielding and he got out on the first ball," said one of the spectators.