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[PICTURES] Would Azam Khan be a better cricketer if he lost weight?

Azam Khan scored 18* (15) for Karachi Whites. Though it wasn't a great start for him in the National T20 Cup 2023, hopefully, he will improve his form.

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The guy has pathetic fitness, he doesn't even stretch properly and gets run out. (Scored 41 off 22 balls)

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Azam Khan run out is a joke. The guy can't even jog. Should never be selected for Pakistan with his current fitness.
 
If you cannot take fitness seriously then what does that tell you about that sportsman.

Not acceptable at all.
 
Saj said:
If you cannot take fitness seriously then what does that tell you about that sportsman.

Not acceptable at all.
Click to expand...

Moin Khan has said Azam just can't help himself. He has an eating disorder and puts on weight very easily.

I am sure the family has the resources to opt for liposuction. His big hitting abilities cannot be ignored in the white ball formats.
 
Savak said:
Moin Khan has said Azam just can't help himself. He has an eating disorder and puts on weight very easily.

I am sure the family has the resources to opt for liposuction. His big hitting abilities cannot be ignored in the white ball formats.
Click to expand...

Liposuction will only be cosmetic. It won’t fix the core issues why he is obese, or get him into better shape as a player anyway.

If Moin is to be believed (no reason not to), Azam’s problems are far more serious. They are more life issues than just related to a sporting career. If he is this obese when playing a sport professionally, I can’t imagine his weight when he stops playing.

I’ve always believed he will never have a proper international career. Now I believe his getting long term help to improve quality of life is way more important.
 
Azam Khan in T20s in 2023:

833 runs, 1 hundred, 3 fifties
83 fours, 48 sixes
31 average, 154 strike rate

Mohammad Haris is the only Pakistani to score 800+ T20 runs at a better strike rate in a calendar year.
 
Another special t20 knock by Azam khan. Made 59(24) against Sialkot in ongoing National t20 tournament. Certainly this young man is making a strong case for himself and may get an inclusion into Pakistan’s squad for t20 WC 2024.
 
Saw his innings ball by ball today. He was smashing some pretty bad bowling out of the park and also got lucky edges going for four. He hit a couple of good shots but overall, as always, looked very limited in his range of strokes. This guy can't make it in internationals no matter how much people get deceived. His ceiling is leagues. Yes, he has power but he will not survive quality bowling.
 
The Bald Eagle said:
Another special t20 knock by Azam khan. Made 59(24) against Sialkot in ongoing National t20 tournament. Certainly this young man is making a strong case for himself and may get an inclusion into Pakistan’s squad for t20 WC 2024.
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Making a strong case by smashing 40+ year old Bilal Asif, who was bowling the same lines around the wicket serving pies to Azam, for 4 sixes in an over? God forbid that the selectors have the same thoughts. He could barely survive a ball against decent spinners like Rashid and Mujeeb.
 
hafizexpress said:
Making a strong case by smashing 40+ year old Bilal Asif, who was bowling the same lines around the wicket serving pies to Azam, for 4 sixes in an over? God forbid that the selectors have the same thoughts. He could barely survive a ball against decent spinners like Rashid and Mujeeb.
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How good is Babar against Rashid and Mujeeb?
 
Let’s get one thing absolutely clear. Whether it’s Bilal Asif at his peak or in the twilight of his career, Babar and Rizwan are not taking him down EVER for 4 sixes in an over. Never Ever.

Ammad and Azam Khan did it today. It takes cojones to go for 4+ sixes an over against any bowler, these two went for it and were rewarded.
 
Rana said:
How good is Babar against Rashid and Mujeeb?
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I don't know why this is relevant but sure, let's take his most recent performance against them. I recall him scoring in the 70s and getting Pakistan to at least the last 10 overs with the middle order around him failing. Didn't get out to either of them. Managed to survive. I still don't think he's amazing vs them but he's definitely shown he's more capable than Azam Khan. But again, no relevance here. Topic is on the other Azam
 
Rana said:
Let’s get one thing absolutely clear. Whether it’s Bilal Asif at his peak or in the twilight of his career, Babar and Rizwan are not taking him down EVER for 4 sixes in an over. Never Ever.

Ammad and Azam Khan did it today. It takes cojones to go for 4+ sixes an over against any bowler, these two went for it and were rewarded.
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Ifti hit Wahab for 6 sixes in an over earlier this year but that didn't say much about him. Asif Ali hit 4 sixes in an over in the 2021 t20 world cup to win the game but nowhere to be seen right now. Not sure why he's not playing in the Pakistan Cup either. And those two feet were all much more impressive than hitting Bilal Asif's horrible bowling for 4 sixes in an over. When Mo Ali came he got crammed up. He could only really go after weak bowling today

Afridi was also always capable of hitting multiple sixes in an over at every stage of his career. Didn't mean he always deserved to be on the team
 
^ I could argue Hasan Ali could have also hit Bilal Asif for 4 sixes in his overs todays, as well as Shaheen, Wasim Jr, and Haris Rauf
 
The Bald Eagle said:
Another special t20 knock by Azam khan. Made 59(24) against Sialkot in ongoing National t20 tournament. Certainly this young man is making a strong case for himself and may get an inclusion into Pakistan’s squad for t20 WC 2024.
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Where will he field for 20 overs if he's not the keeper?
 
Azam Khan will forever remain a domestic and league bully because he refuses to lose the weight.

He will not be able to replicate these feats at international level in the shape that he's in, so forget picking him.

Let alone the massive liability he would be in the field. He would have to be performing at Inzamam levels to compensate...and he is most definitely nowhere near that.
 
shortbread said:
Where will he field for 20 overs if he's not the keeper?
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He would have to keep. It would be like trying to hide an airship otherwise.

So by picking him we sacrifice the skills of Rizwan who is one of the best WK's in the world right now. That in itself can lose you a game.

Azam has talent but not enough to compensate for his shortcomings. And it's his own fault because he should have lost the weight years ago.
 
Saj said:
If you cannot take fitness seriously then what does that tell you about that sportsman.

Not acceptable at all.
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Problem with him is. The issue of fitness and losing weight is not serious to him. I've often seen him making jokes about his weight.

He also focusses on strength training at the gym and poses for selfies doing that- seemingly to show people his trying to get in shape. But he should be doing extensive cardio inside and outside the gym.
 
He doesn't care about his weight. The selectors will select him as he is or will draw a very big line around him, if he isn't their cup of tea
 
Cricket Warrior said:
on third man or might be at deep fine leg :D
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Maybe if it was test cricket, but having him play 5 day cricket is a health risk.

Shorter formats especially T20 nowadays you cannot hide a fielder anywhere. The batsmen play all round the ground. Imagine if Maxwell had to score 15-20 off an over against Pakistan, the first thing he'll do is search where exactly is the skipper hiding Azam!
 
Azam is a must in the Pakistan t20 badly need someone to finish games and hit justly blows in the middle he seems like the right man for the job
 
JAV12341 said:
Azam is a must in the Pakistan t20 badly need someone to finish games and hit justly blows in the middle he seems like the right man for the job
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Another decent performance by Azam Khan made 34*(19) against Rawalpindi. Currently,this lad is in red hot form.Hope he continues this form if he gets selected for Pakistan.
 
If he keeps scoring runs in T20 cricket then he should definitely play for Pakistan. Weight be damned.

We just have to be smart. Whenever we bowl second, Azam should not take the field, allowing a far better fielder to take his spot. That still leaves one fielding substitute for the rest of the team, in case someone has to get a breather.

When we bowl first, Azam has to be on the field but as far as I know, he would do decently in catching positions (slips) so it won't be a complete disaster.

That said, in the background, he has to work on turning that fat into muscle and see a doctor for his weight issues.
 
Beast of a player. Has been performing in t20s for quite a while now. Definitely deserves an extended run in the Pakistans middle order. A lot to like about him. Powerful beast.
 
JAV12341 said:
Beast of a player. Has been performing in t20s for quite a while now. Definitely deserves an extended run in the Pakistans middle order. A lot to like about him. Powerful beast.
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The powerful beast averages around 2 in international cricket 😂.
 
Azam Khan has always wanted to stay in the Islamabad United franchise, as he says:

IMG-20231209-WA0040.jpg
 
The lad can be a better player if he gets fitter.

Most other Boards would say to him, get fitter and you have the world at your feet and can play for your country.
 
Azam Khan makes it to the Pakistan side for T20 series against New Zealand in New Zealand in 2024. His performance here would be really crucial for his selection in T20 squad for the T20 WC 2024.
 
Wahab Khan speaking in a presser today

"We have watched Azam Khan very closely. At times, you have to prefer skills over fitness. If a player can win you a match, that's more important than anything else. We've spoken to Azam Khan and given him a clear message – we want to invest in him, but he has to respond as well. You can't expect anyone to lose 10 kg in 10 days, but there is a way [to improve fitness]. We've seen he's a high impact player in PSL, domestic cricket, other leagues – we've tried many players at number so now we want to give Azam a chance,"
 
The Bald Eagle said:
Wahab Khan speaking in a presser today

"We have watched Azam Khan very closely. At times, you have to prefer skills over fitness. If a player can win you a match, that's more important than anything else. We've spoken to Azam Khan and given him a clear message – we want to invest in him, but he has to respond as well. You can't expect anyone to lose 10 kg in 10 days, but there is a way [to improve fitness]. We've seen he's a high impact player in PSL, domestic cricket, other leagues – we've tried many players at number so now we want to give Azam a chance,"
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It's more a case of desperation. Pakistan needs a player like him in the middle order,
 
His so called skills are wildly overrated.

Leave aside fitness, he is still nothing special as a batsman
 
Where do you stand on the fitness vs effectiveness debate?

MS Dhoni famously dropped Sehwag because he was too slow on the field. Wahab, on the other hand, does not seem to see things that way.

But it seems according to Wahab, Azam khan is an exception to it.
 
The Bald Eagle said:
Where do you stand on the fitness vs effectiveness debate?

MS Dhoni famously dropped Sehwag because he was too slow on the field. Wahab, on the other hand, does not seem to see things that way.

But it seems according to Wahab, Azam khan is an exception to it.
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Comparing Sehwag to Azam, seriously?
Azam is a parchi. Nothing more.
 
In 2023, with all the science we have, it's really not an exceptional ask for a professional sportsman to get into better shape. He doesn't have a different 9-5 like the rest of us; this is literally his job, he gets paid to do this. No one's asking him to be Kohli, we're asking him to show some basic commitment to the cause and reach the base level for a sportsman.

We've been having this conversation for years now and it's boring. If he was really committed to his country and this sport, he would have done it by now.
 
Firebat said:
In 2023, with all the science we have, it's really not an exceptional ask for a professional sportsman to get into better shape. He doesn't have a different 9-5 like the rest of us; this is literally his job, he gets paid to do this. No one's asking him to be Kohli, we're asking him to show some basic commitment to the cause and reach the base level for a sportsman.

We've been having this conversation for years now and it's boring. If he was really committed to his country and this sport, he would have done it by now.
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This is pure laziness and we are fine with accepting that. State of the Nation.
 
He's bang average as a batsman even leaving aside his fitness. Won't amount to anything.
 
I think his weight is his strength because he generates a lot of power from a stable base.

If he is doing well with such a bulky body so what's the reason for telling him to lose some weight?

What if he never remains as effective after loosing weight?
 
Cricket Warrior said:
I think his weight is his strength because he generates a lot of power from a stable base.

If he is doing well with such a bulky body so what's the reason for telling him to lose some weight?

What if he never remains as effective after loosing weight?
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A bulky body clearly isn’t the reason he is doing well, otherwise we’d see obese cricketers all over the shop.

He is doing well despite his fat, not because of it.

And at international level where your limitations will be ruthlessly exposed he will need Inzamam levels of ability to compensate for it.
 
MenInG said:
This is pure laziness and we are fine with accepting that. State of the Nation.
Click to expand...
dont think laziness but living in a delusion .

He has convinced himself that he gets his strength from his fat, so if he trims down he will lose his advantage.
 
Cricket Warrior said:
I think his weight is his strength because he generates a lot of power from a stable base.

If he is doing well with such a bulky body so what's the reason for telling him to lose some weight?

What if he never remains as effective after loosing weight?
Click to expand...
It will affect his timing initially. His strength will go down unless he puts on muscle to compensate which he should.

He’d have to potentially risk what is comfortable and perhaps even take an early hit in performance in return for a better cricketing version of himself in the future.

But in reality it’s probably not worth the risk or effort for Azam. I don’t think he’s desperate to play international cricket that he’s ready to risk even the smallest chance he’ll lose effectiveness at PSL level. He’s happy there. If he plays a few international games it’s a bonus for him. And tbh it’s his choice, we don’t need to select him for internationals or not.

Instead really we should be focusing on maintain fitness levels at youth and domestic cricket so players as talented as Azam are fit at youth level, rather trying to fix them later.
 
So Wahab publicly blasts the lack of fitness standards amongst Pakistani cricketers yet morbidly obese Azam Khan is selected for NZL tour.

Seems Wahab confused the NZL tour with the upcoming Royal Rumble.

I've criticised Rizwan's slowcoach T20 batting. However that shouldn't mean we select players who don't meet basic fitness criteria.
 
Markhor said:
So Wahab publicly blasts the lack of fitness standards amongst Pakistani cricketers yet morbidly obese Azam Khan is selected for NZL tour.

Seems Wahab confused the NZL tour with the upcoming Royal Rumble.

I've criticised Rizwan's slowcoach T20 batting. However that shouldn't mean we select players who don't meet basic fitness criteria.
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Here is the thing

There is no doubt Azam is the kind of batsman you need at this level in the middle order. Natural powerhouse, and looks to take down spin.

If Azam loses 40-50kg, he won’t be the same batsman that you desperately need. It’s a catch 22 situation. The question you should be asking is that why are those supposedly fit+ Aesthetically pleasing looking players not able to do what Azam can in his current physical shape? Where are we going wrong?

Why are Babar and Rizwan unable to bat at a strike rate of 170+ in the powerplay let alone outside of it?
 
Rana said:
Here is the thing

There is no doubt Azam is the kind of batsman you need at this level in the middle order. Natural powerhouse, and looks to take down spin.

If Azam loses 40-50kg, he won’t be the same batsman that you desperately need. It’s a catch 22 situation. The question you should be asking is that why are those supposedly fit+ Aesthetically pleasing looking players not able to do what Azam can in his current physical shape? Where are we going wrong?

Why are Babar and Rizwan unable to bat at a strike rate of 170+ in the powerplay let alone outside of it?
Click to expand...
Leave alone his fitness bro. Azam khan is no talent and will amount to nothing on international level.

Anyone can look good on those hellish psl wickets we had where even 300 looked like a possibility.
 
Marooned said:
Leave alone his fitness bro. Azam khan is no talent and will amount to nothing on international level.

Anyone can look good on those hellish psl wickets we had where even 300 looked like a possibility.
Click to expand...
Well, what exactly is he supposed to do besides looking like he is a good batsman? He’s been selected because he has impressed again and again. What more can he do?
 
Rana said:
Here is the thing

There is no doubt Azam is the kind of batsman you need at this level in the middle order. Natural powerhouse, and looks to take down spin.

If Azam loses 40-50kg, he won’t be the same batsman that you desperately need. It’s a catch 22 situation. The question you should be asking is that why are those supposedly fit+ Aesthetically pleasing looking players not able to do what Azam can in his current physical shape? Where are we going wrong?

Why are Babar and Rizwan unable to bat at a strike rate of 170+ in the powerplay let alone outside of it?
Click to expand...
Losing 40-50kg would be extreme. I accept Azam is a big boned guy and will always be on the heavier side.

However I don't accept this notion there's a trade-off between fitness and skill, or the even more simplistic notion that our only available choice is a skilled unfit player vs a mediocre fit player. Or that Azam Khan currently is in optimal shape for international cricket.

Ball striking ability is more to do with technique than body mass - otherwise you'd see professional golfers or baseball players all built like sumo wrestlers.

Better fitness will enhance Azam's skills not detract from them. He'd maintain his powerhitting abilities for longer, play longer innings, run harder between the wickets, and be more nimble in the field.

And leave cricket aside, it'd be beneficial for his long-term health.
 
Markhor said:
Ball striking ability is more to do with technique than body mass - otherwise you'd see professional golfers or baseball players all built like sumo wrestlers.
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So do you acknowledge Azam has the right technique for ball striking? Why then have we not seen any improvement of ball striking abilities of players that have been on the job for many years now? They don’t have fitness or body mass issues, but they are continuously serving us the same, lame and week approach with the bat….leaving their fans to tell us that they are the best in the world but in reality they are far from it.

Unless you have 6-8 better ball strikers than Azam in the squad, how can you just blacklist him for his current shape and form?
 
Rana said:
Here is the thing

There is no doubt Azam is the kind of batsman you need at this level in the middle order. Natural powerhouse, and looks to take down spin.

If Azam loses 40-50kg, he won’t be the same batsman that you desperately need. It’s a catch 22 situation. The question you should be asking is that why are those supposedly fit+ Aesthetically pleasing looking players not able to do what Azam can in his current physical shape? Where are we going wrong?

Why are Babar and Rizwan unable to bat at a strike rate of 170+ in the powerplay let alone outside of it?
Click to expand...
Due to his excessive weight, he cannot last in cricket for more than 2-3 years ahead. Also, he doesn't have any long term services to offer Pakistan, because on the field you will see him in a state of lethargy.
 
Rana said:
So do you acknowledge Azam has the right technique for ball striking? Why then have we not seen any improvement of ball striking abilities of players that have been on the job for many years now? They don’t have fitness or body mass issues, but they are continuously serving us the same, lame and week approach with the bat….leaving their fans to tell us that they are the best in the world but in reality they are far from it.

Unless you have 6-8 better ball strikers than Azam in the squad, how can you just blacklist him for his current shape and form?
Click to expand...
Azam Khan hasn't proven anything in internationals - scoring a grand total of 7 runs in 5 T20Is at 53 SR. The only thing he's amassed are calories not runs.

Look two wrongs don't make a right. Babar and Rizwan's approach to opening is pathetic but that cannot justify abandoning fitness standards.

Now Hafeez, despite his unfitness to be team director/head coach, reinvented himself as a powerhitter after adopting techniques from golf. I hope his example can rub off.
 
The golf analogy that the last poster mentioned is a good one.
In essence, both golf and cricket are bat and ball games.
Golf has become a power game with the modern golfer needing to drive the ball at least 300 yards to be able to compete.

All modern golfers are now totally ripped (started with Tiger, then McIlroy etc) — they spend hours in the gym. The days of the fatties like Colin Montgomerie, John Daly, Craig Stadler are gone.

Never heard anyone on the PGA tour saying I need my fat to be able to hit the ball further.

These players are multimillionaires (well Tiger is a billionaire) but they still train like crazy.

Truly, truly embarrassing that people try and justify Azam’s lack of professionalism as being central to his ball hitting capability.
 
Azam Khan will get a chance. Up to him to show all what progress he's made since last international outing.
 
I was chatting with a former player about Azam and he said, what sort of example does this set to younger players - you can be literally obese, have very poor fitness, have very poor agility, yet play for Pakistan.
 
Saj said:
I was chatting with a former player about Azam and he said, what sort of example does this set to younger players - you can be literally obese, have very poor fitness, have very poor agility, yet play for Pakistan.
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Couldn’t have put it better — spot on !
 
Azam Khan has been named in the Pakistan Team's playing 11 for the 1st T20 match against New Zealand, it also marks his return to the side. Will he look any different and better than before or will he be the same old one?

I guess today is the chance for Azam to make a long-lasting impression and start the series on a high note. Can make it into the World Cup Squad as well if her performs.
 
Don’t think I’ve ever wished for a player representing Pakistan to fail. Azam Khan will be the first. Fitness should be the bare minimum expectation from a professional sportsman
 
How did he keep today?

As long as he doesn't have to play in the outfield it's possible he can be suitable for t20's.
 
Firebat said:
In 2023, with all the science we have, it's really not an exceptional ask for a professional sportsman to get into better shape. He doesn't have a different 9-5 like the rest of us; this is literally his job, he gets paid to do this. No one's asking him to be Kohli, we're asking him to show some basic commitment to the cause and reach the base level for a sportsman.

We've been having this conversation for years now and it's boring. If he was really committed to his country and this sport, he would have done it by now.
Click to expand...
Well said. I cant back a team which selects a player like Azam. I mean its just not acceptable!
 
Nothing I have seen today from Azam Khan makes me think he is any lesser of a player than others.

His batting will be important today
 
Can’t bat and can’t run more than one run. How many more chances is he going to get?
 
its embarrassing seeing him in the pakistani kit. Terrible terrible fitness.

Only in a country like Pakistan can someone as azam to get to play
 
The_KING said:
Can’t bat and can’t run more than one run. How many more chances is he going to get?
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Yeah that's more than enough now. It's his own fault for resembling an airship rather than a cricketer.

Azam should do himself a favour and just play leagues. He'll live a comfortable life that way.

He had his chance at glory to represent Pakistan in the middle order but he chose to remain the shape he is in.
 
I think I have seen enough of him. He's not international quality. Moreover he can't field so the best keeper Rizwan has to make way for him to keep
 
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