In a disappointing turn of events, Azam Khan failed to make any runs in Pakistan’s match against the United States at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas during the T20 World Cup 2024, Match No. 11. Pakistan, batting first, faced early setbacks, losing several wickets quickly. However, a steadying partnership between Babar Azam and Shadab Khan provided some stability. This equilibrium was disrupted in the 10th over when Nosthush Kenjige returned to the attack.
The spinner struck immediately, dismissing Shadab Khan for a brisk 40 runs off 25 balls. On the very next delivery, Kenjige managed to trap Azam Khan, leading to a dramatic turn of events.
Azam Khan, misjudging the delivery, was struck on the pads. Following a fervent appeal, the umpire declared him out. Despite consulting with his captain Babar Azam, who was at the non-striker’s end, and deciding to review the decision, the DRS confirmed the umpire’s call. As a result, Azam had to make his way back to the pavilion without scoring, suffering the ignominy of a golden duck.
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As Azam Khan headed back to the dressing room, a section of fans seated in the stands began to jeer at him, further souring his mood. The visibly frustrated batter glared at the fans before responding to their taunts. Irfan Pathan, commenting from the commentary box, observed the incident and remarked that Azam’s anger would have been better directed towards his performance on the field rather than at the spectators.
Azam khan looking at fans angrily…#T20WorldCup #PAKVUSA #worldcup2024 #T20WorldCup2024 #azamkhan #BabarAzam𓃵 #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/HlOq6wEfnU
— Bitta Chahal (@bittachaha) June 6, 2024
Irfan Pathan commented, “It felt like he was being very casual, and after getting out, he looked very angry. Maybe someone said something to him. He should have shown this anger during the match but instead, he was angry with fans.”
On the other hand, Babar Azam managed to score 44 runs off 43 balls, while towards the end of the innings, Shaheen Shah Afridi played a crucial cameo, scoring an unbeaten 23 runs off 16 balls. Their efforts helped Pakistan post a total of 159 runs. Despite playing on a good batting surface, the Pakistani team was expected to perform better.
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Credit must be given to the USA bowlers, who maintained their composure and executed their plans effectively, taking wickets at regular intervals and ensuring that Pakistan never got into a comfortable position. The USA bowlers’ disciplined performance kept the Pakistani batsmen under constant pressure, and they would be pleased with their efforts in containing a formidable opponent like Pakistan.
