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"When it comes to fitness, I'll never allow Azam Khan to get near the team": Shahid Afridi

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FearlessRoar

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Shahid Afridi speaks about Azam Khan's fitness during a program on local channel:

"Regarding fitness, I'll never allow Azam Khan to get near the team. I also praise him for being strong and hitting the ball very nicely, and his wicket-keeping skills are good, especially in English conditions where the ball carries well to the keeper"

"However, in the West Indies, the ball will remain low and it will be difficult to keep, and I fear he may struggle. Keeping wickets, especially when spinners are bowling, requires a high level of fitness, as you need to keep your body low to the ground."
 
Savak said:
I am sure Azam has the resources to go for Liposuction.
Click to expand...
Liposuction is for body contouring to get rid of excess fat and saggy skin, often women do it after giving birth or obese men who've lost 30 to 40kg and just need to get rid of the excess skin. Or in very rare cases men who are affected by gynocausmatia which can't be rid of by exercise.

What good will it do to Azam? He keeps gaining weight 24/7?
 
mominsaigol said:
Liposuction is for body contouring to get rid of excess fat and saggy skin, often women do it after giving birth or obese men who've lost 30 to 40kg and just need to get rid of the excess skin. Or in very rare cases men who are affected by gynocausmatia which can't be rid of by exercise.

What good will it do to Azam? He keeps gaining weight 24/7?
Click to expand...
ozempic it is
 
If Pakistan has any outside chance in this WC it will be nullified by Babar's insistence on playing Shadab as an allrounder and Azam as a keeper. Personally, I think the latter is even more dangerous than the former despite Shadab's atrocious form.

Azam will definitely shell one catch every second game, if that on average costs 20-30 runs then that is 10-15 runs per game. Add to it at least 5 runs missed in the field in the form of byes, leg byes, misfields and balls left for others and he starts 15-20 runs in the negative. Even with a 150 strike rate he is simply not worth it. If Azam is a necessity then hide him somewhere in the field (good luck), but giving him the most specialized role in the game is not just stupidity but sheer insanity.
 
amvbfm said:
If Pakistan has any outside chance in this WC it will be nullified by Babar's insistence on playing Shadab as an allrounder and Azam as a keeper. Personally, I think the latter is even more dangerous than the former despite Shadab's atrocious form.

Azam will definitely shell one catch every second game, if that on average costs 20-30 runs then that is 10-15 runs per game. Add to it at least 5 runs missed in the field in the form of byes, leg byes, misfields and balls left for others and he starts 15-20 runs in the negative. Even with a 150 strike rate he is simply not worth it. If Azam is a necessity then hide him somewhere in the field (good luck), but giving him the most specialized role in the game is not just stupidity but sheer insanity.
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Why is azam even a nessisty. He's only good for minnow bashing, but besides Ireland no one else will give him that opportunity.

Current USA and Canada team is filled with b string League superstars who are all superior to azam, as azam is more of a C string Leagie superstar, mostly their for entertainment against trundlers.

He can only perform against Ireland due to their 110kph pacers but even then he must hope against hope that Mark adair doesn't come to bowl
 
mominsaigol said:
Why is azam even a nessisty. He's only good for minnow bashing, but besides Ireland no one else will give him that opportunity.

Current USA and Canada team is filled with b string League superstars who are all superior to azam, as azam is more of a C string Leagie superstar, mostly their for entertainment against trundlers.

He can only perform against Ireland due to their 110kph pacers but even then he must hope against hope that Mark adair doesn't come to bowl
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Ideally he shouldn't be anywhere near the national setup, not even A or B teams. He is a club level cricketer with abject fitness but one with the right connections. But in the long run all sports are meritocracies and those who do not belong get exposed. The sad thing is that exposure will come at the expense of the national team. For the team's sake I hope he comes good as the management seems hellbent on ensuring he plays until he does.
 
I would suggest to the media and ex cricketers that the time is now to shut their mouths. He has had plenty of time to comment on Azam. Now that the squad is final there is literally 0 benefit to anyone in saying if it was up to you he wouldn't be in the team at all.

Conduct a post mortem after the WC if needed.

For now give them your duas and good wishes.
 
This where the likes of the coaching need to put their foot down kirsten , Gillespie and azhar mahmood.

You can't have 2 liabilities in the team like azam and saim.

Azam isn't needed because you have the same player in the form of the mercurial chacha who does the same job but is more valuable since he can chip in with the ball.
 
mominsaigol said:
Liposuction is for body contouring to get rid of excess fat and saggy skin, often women do it after giving birth or obese men who've lost 30 to 40kg and just need to get rid of the excess skin. Or in very rare cases men who are affected by gynocausmatia which can't be rid of by exercise.

What good will it do to Azam? He keeps gaining weight 24/7?
Click to expand...
There is also a theory of athlete's performance dropping after losing too much body weight. The correlation between enhancement of performance and lowering of weight is not scientifically established.
 
Savak said:
I am sure Azam has the resources to go for Liposuction.
Click to expand...

Am not an expert on the surgery but not sure if it would actually make him fitter ? he’d still need to put the work in wouldn’t he ?
 
"Regarding fitness, I'll never allow Azam Khan to get near the team.

Surely that’s the most sensible thing
shahid 0(1) Afridi has said in his life.
 
Anyway Mr. Afridi, I do appreciate your view on this, you were a very very fit man. But be thankful you played for Pakistan, because other teams around the world would not accept players with one brain cell only. Thank you.
 
shaz619 said:
Anyway Mr. Afridi, I do appreciate your view on this, you were a very very fit man. But be thankful you played for Pakistan, because other teams around the world would not accept players with one brain cell only. Thank you.
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Every team has a player like him..
 
Afridi can easily be manipulated into saying saucy stuff by cunning Pakistani media. That's all he's done.
 
Yeah fitness wise you won't allow any player like him but if he can stand and deliver good then I would take him any day.
 
The Bald Eagle said:
Yeah fitness wise you won't allow any player like him but if he can stand and deliver good then I would take him any day.
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Unfortunately cricket is a sport that requires physical movement. If Azam represented Pakistan in darts, then fine he can 'stand and deliver'. Unfortunately for him cricket also involves running, bending, stretching, diving.... all of which is a struggle for Azam.
 
amvbfm said:
If Pakistan has any outside chance in this WC it will be nullified by Babar's insistence on playing Shadab as an allrounder and Azam as a keeper. Personally, I think the latter is even more dangerous than the former despite Shadab's atrocious form.

Azam will definitely shell one catch every second game, if that on average costs 20-30 runs then that is 10-15 runs per game. Add to it at least 5 runs missed in the field in the form of byes, leg byes, misfields and balls left for others and he starts 15-20 runs in the negative. Even with a 150 strike rate he is simply not worth it. If Azam is a necessity then hide him somewhere in the field (good luck), but giving him the most specialized role in the game is not just stupidity but sheer insanity.
Click to expand...
You make it sound as if Azam is some big power hitter who has scored some major runs vs SENA / India. Minus Ireland who are part timers, do you even know his record? He should not even be in the squad let alone playing 11.

any selector / Captain that selects Azam, should never be taken serious again.
 
Question is will Azam even be what he is now if he lost the weight? He's not a good player by any stretch of the imagination. But he can hit sixes and his strong base and massive center of gravity is probably a big reason why some of his hits are so clean.
 
Can’t really blame Azam Khan, he grew up in a typical Pakistan household where if you’re fat you’re considered “healthy” and if you’re skinny you’re considered weak.

He probably grew up hearing all sorts of compliments from the female relatives.

“MashaAllah, bohat bara hogya”

“Jawan hogya”

“Muscley nikalay howe”
 
pakistani pride said:
You make it sound as if Azam is some big power hitter who has scored some major runs vs SENA / India. Minus Ireland who are part timers, do you even know his record? He should not even be in the squad let alone playing 11.

any selector / Captain that selects Azam, should never be taken serious again.
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Erm.. where did I say that?
 
Edgbaston was the first time I have seen Azam playing live and it was an interesting experience.

As a wicket-keeper, his movement is club level which is no surprise.

Yes he can hit a cricket ball hard now and then, but I think it's a risk having him as keeper, because you know he will cost you in byes, dropped catches too.
 
Saj said:
Edgbaston was the first time I have seen Azam playing live and it was an interesting experience.

As a wicket-keeper, his movement is club level which is no surprise.

Yes he can hit a cricket ball hard now and then, but I think it's a risk having him as keeper, because you know he will cost you in byes, dropped catches too.
Click to expand...
Yes, hit 6s vs league bowlers or part timers (Ireland).
 
Saj said:
Edgbaston was the first time I have seen Azam playing live and it was an interesting experience.

As a wicket-keeper, his movement is club level which is no surprise.

Yes he can hit a cricket ball hard now and then, but I think it's a risk having him as keeper, because you know he will cost you in byes, dropped catches too.
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He's more agile then rizwan according to experts.
 
Will be a national shame if an unfit player like Azam keeps wicket and fit & agile Rizwan is left lurking at 3rd man
 
He will score 20 runs and leak 30 while keeping, so it's better to place a brick behind the wickets instead of this babloo that brick will still effectively stop some runs.
 
Cricket Warrior said:
He will score 20 runs and leak 30 while keeping, so it's better to place a brick behind the wickets instead of this babloo that brick will still effectively stop some runs.
Click to expand...

I was wondering how he collects hard throws, slightly mis-directed throws not to mention slightly widish deliveries from bowlers. That is where the athleiticism will be tested. Will he be as good as Moin khan.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
I was wondering how he collects hard throws, slightly mis-directed throws not to mention slightly widish deliveries from bowlers. That is where the athleiticism will be tested. Will he be as good as Moin khan.
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Moin was skinny and very active during his time. Azam hardly leans forward during wicket keeping due to his big tummy. He can't be a good keeper if he doesn't lose weight.
 
There’s no way Azam can effectively play at the WK position simply because he has too much weight and will tire himself out with the repetitive up and down motion. Lets put this into perspective by estimating the amount of force placed on his leg joints when he squats:

I’m guessing he weighs about 300lbs, and the forces on knee joints is about 3-7x the body weight depending on how far down he squats. Based on what I’ve seen it’s not much so let’s go with a factor of 5x. This means about 1500lbs of force on the leg joints for a partial squat. To put this into layman terms, 1500lbs of force is equivalent to a small adult elephant’s foot pressing down.

So every time you see Azam Khan attempting to squat in the WK position, he’s feeling an elephant stepping on his legs.
 
Azam Khan in a nutshell

mfG33vK.png
 
The game has progressed too much for teams to "hide" a player as a wicketkeeper.

He's one of the worst keepers to have played for Pakistan. If not the worst. It's senseless and you have to be the GOAT T20 batsman to even remotely justify something like this.
 
offstump said:
View attachment 144071
Click to expand...
You can clearly tell this dude has never ever actually hit the gym and his so called stunts in gym and videos were just that, a fake fitness influencer vlog.

Even if you eat too much, intense regular workout sessions won't ever lead to a body like that. You'll still be overweight because you're eating too much, but you'll never be this level.

This is clearly 3500+ calories consumed daily with zero workout sessions inbetween.
 
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offstump said:
View attachment 144071
Click to expand...

If Azam Khan was batting like Andre Russel or Suryakumar, I would have happily taken this guy in the team with this pathetic physique, but so far he is just a burden and a dead weight that this team has to lift for nothing. He has nothing to show when it comes to performances that matter the most but the only thing he has got to show is this what I am seeing atm.
 
Considering this guy did a 1 mile run slower than an average person who can walk the same distance .

It's high level nepotism he's been selected.
 
charlie007 said:
You guys are body shaming the biggest hitter in Pakistan cricket… tch tch tch
Click to expand...
But Babloo is not taking it seriously at all because he knows the selection wont be based on merit. All he needs to do is stay close to Babar Azam to remain in his friendship circle.
 
mazkhan said:
Considering this guy did a 1 mile run slower than an average person who can walk the same distance .

It's high level nepotism he's been selected.
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I am pretty much sure that he got selected one last time for Pakistan, next time u wil see him making parathas for himself. lol
 
Cricket Warrior said:
I am pretty much sure that he got selected one last time for Pakistan, next time u wil see him making parathas for himself. lol
Click to expand...
He got selected because selectors are idiots.

A nepotism person gets to book his place for 30 games if he manages to perform once.

The Ireland game booked it for him
 
Its really a sad portrait of Pakistan cricket that a unfit player have been included in the world cup team . Just shocking . And include the name of that spraygun fast bowler and a captain who is always busy of making personal achievement, Pakistan actually never deserved to be in super 8.
 
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Cricket Warrior said:
I am pretty much sure that he got selected one last time for Pakistan, next time u wil see him making parathas for himself. lol
Click to expand...
Never say never with the PCB, If he scores a couple of quick 30s say in the 2025 Uganda Special league for the Kampala Gorillas, that's all it takes for the selectors to chose him!

As ridiculous as it sounds, that's exactly what happened. So the next T20 World cup is co-hosted by Sri Lanka. Azam Khan will play the T20 league in SL, a few scores again an unknown bowling line-up and he'll be selected because apparently, 'he knows the conditions'!
 
Mohraheem said:
Azam Is better Thn Chacha. Chacha should work on his fitness
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No he isn't.

Chacha is bad I 100% agree and ik you hate chacha with a passion, but Azam Khan is much much worse.

Although their isn't much I can say about chacha or anything good either.
 
Azam Khan and Iftikhar ahmed chapter should be closed now. There is no discussion needed as both should not be in the team anymore. Time to get rid of these hacks as they are good for nothing.
 
By far one of the worst if not the absolute worst player to ever represent Pakistan (after playing atleast 5 international games).

Comical to play Him over the likes of Azam Khan.

I get the criticism for rizwan and Usman Khan but even their 100x better then this guy. Thankfully haris has effectively replaced him and azam Khan won't return.

He is a disgrace to his father and the ultimate i repeat ultimate case of nepotism.

He would never, I repeat never ever play for pakistan if he wasnt connected to Moin Khan.

And yes while chubby cricketers can be good players, case in point inzi, Sarfaraz Khan etc etc

Obese players can never be successful batters let alone wicket keepers which require you to be proactive.

I dont think I've ever seen a fatter player then Azam Khan. Even current Corey Anderson who let himself go never reached Azam's level.

At a batsmen he has no technique beyond swinging his bat. And his wicket keeping his hilarious.

I still remember one of this interviews " People say you need to be athletic as a wicket keeper, idk if think im very athletic 🤡"
 
Double Trouble said:
WWE owner Vince M should give Azam K a go in next years royal rumble.

Azam will put bums on seats 100%.
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Vince isnt a part of wwe anymore. He was ousted from his own company and is fighting a pedo case in court.

Beyond being a stakeholder with shares, he has no actual say in the company anymore.
 
I was in a restaurant in Karachi recently and saw Azam Khan there. He was drinking coke and going wild at the buffet. I'm no athlete, but even I avoid soft drinks so I can maintain my fitness and weight.

It was really disappointing to see. If Azam lost weight and was fit, he would really be a good cricketer. He has the genes, he has the strength and hand-eye coordination. All he has to do is hit the gym and eat healthier.
 
Asad T said:
I was in a restaurant in Karachi recently and saw Azam Khan there. He was drinking coke and going wild at the buffet. I'm no athlete, but even I avoid soft drinks so I can maintain my fitness and weight.

It was really disappointing to see. If Azam lost weight and was fit, he would really be a good cricketer. He has the genes, he has the strength and hand-eye coordination. All he has to do is hit the gym and eat healthier.
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Soft drinks are fine. At the end of the day its about calories in vs Calories out. Obviously getting muscular and toned is a different story where workout is must,

Their tons of people who have multiple soft drinks per day but are fit. My own cousin drinks 3 cokes a day but is fit since he frequently plays football at a club just for fun, he remains fit.

Problem isnt just the soft drinks, problem is Azam Khan is atleast having 5000 to 10,000 calories a day and I'm 110% sure he hasn't exercised a day in his life.

Holding a cricket bat, wearing pads and lightly jogging for singles even though you've hit it far enough that most cricketers would take doubles or Triples isnt exercise.

I saw him videos in 2024 wc, that is not exercise, that so called military training for azam is something I can easily do.

The army clearly took it easy on him compared to others. Army training is not simply running and doing like 2 pushups per milestone 🤣🤣. Not that he was running anyway. My dad is 63 and he's 100x faster then Azam Khan whos suppose to be a 27 year old young lad entering into his prime
 
mominsaigol said:
Soft drinks are fine. At the end of the day its about calories in vs Calories out. Obviously getting muscular and toned is a different story where workout is must,

Their tons of people who have multiple soft drinks per day but are fit. My own cousin drinks 3 cokes a day but is fit since he frequently plays football at a club just for fun, he remains fit.

Problem isnt just the soft drinks, problem is Azam Khan is atleast having 5000 to 10,000 calories a day and I'm 110% sure he hasn't exercised a day in his life.

Holding a cricket bat, wearing pads and lightly jogging for singles even though you've hit it far enough that most cricketers would take doubles or Triples isnt exercise.

I saw him videos in 2024 wc, that is not exercise, that so called military training for azam is something I can easily do.

The army clearly took it easy on him compared to others. Army training is not simply running and doing like 2 pushups per milestone 🤣🤣. Not that he was running anyway. My dad is 63 and he's 100x faster then Azam Khan whos suppose to be a 27 year old young lad entering into his prime
Click to expand...

On having too much sugar: diet is important. it's not just about calories in and out imo. Soft drinks and too much sugar / carbs cause inflammation, hampers recovery, gives brain-fog ect. As a club player it's ok, but if you want to make it to the big leagues (like Azam) it's different.

And as a pro athlete, at that level, it all boils down to those 1% difference makers. That 1% is the difference between clearing the rope and getting caught at long-on, that 1% is the difference between taking a stunning catch or the ball going for 4 etc

for sure exercise is more important, but as a pro athlete, the small things also really matter
 
Asad T said:
On having too much sugar: diet is important. it's not just about calories in and out imo. Soft drinks and too much sugar / carbs cause inflammation, hampers recovery, gives brain-fog ect. As a club player it's ok, but if you want to make it to the big leagues (like Azam) it's different.

And as a pro athlete, at that level, it all boils down to those 1% difference makers. That 1% is the difference between clearing the rope and getting caught at long-on, that 1% is the difference between taking a stunning catch or the ball going for 4 etc

for sure exercise is more important, but as a pro athlete, the small things also really matter
Click to expand...
Has anyone told Azam Khan that Diet Coke exists?

A professional athlete not being able to control soft drinks is wild lol
 
Asad T said:
On having too much sugar: diet is important. it's not just about calories in and out imo. Soft drinks and too much sugar / carbs cause inflammation, hampers recovery, gives brain-fog ect. As a club player it's ok, but if you want to make it to the big leagues (like Azam) it's different.

And as a pro athlete, at that level, it all boils down to those 1% difference makers. That 1% is the difference between clearing the rope and getting caught at long-on, that 1% is the difference between taking a stunning catch or the ball going for 4 etc

for sure exercise is more important, but as a pro athlete, the small things also really matter
Click to expand...
I guess so, but hes not really a bowler, hes a batsmen so he can make do.

The problem isnt him drinking coke. Pretty sure the likes of naseem are forced to drink it occasionally for coke ads on TV 🤣🤣🤣.

The problem is him eating and drinking 5k to 10K calories a day bare minimum.
 
Even the small few who used to champion his inclusion in the side have gone quiet now. Because he can't even hack it in the PSL now.

What I don't understand is how he gets all this goodwill. Whether its from Islamabad United or people who have been putting over his "hitting ability against spin." There are significantly more talented players who haven't gotten 10% of the backing and support that he has gotten.

And yet he still has the audacity to talk about how misunderstood he is, and how only foreign coaches 'get him' lol.

Said it before and I'll say it again, if this is your level of fitness then it means that you don't care about the game. You are not serious enough about it. Go home, live off your father’s wealth, and stop wasting everyone’s time by pretending to be a professional cricketer.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Even the small few who used to champion his inclusion in the side have gone quiet now. Because he can't even hack it in the PSL now.

What I don't understand is how he gets all this goodwill. Whether its from Islamabad United or people who have been putting over his "hitting ability against spin." There are significantly more talented players who haven't gotten 10% of the backing and support that he has gotten.

And yet he still has the audacity to talk about how misunderstood he is, and how only foreign coaches 'get him' lol.

Said it before and I'll say it again, if this is your level of fitness then it means that you don't care about the game. You are not serious enough about it. Go home, live off your father’s wealth, and stop wasting everyone’s time by pretending to be a professional cricketer.
Click to expand...

now even foreign coaches don't understand him
hesson side-lined him in favor of this random Ghazi fellow in the psl
 
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