T20 World Cup 2024: Rashid Latif Comes In The Defense Of Azam Khan

Pakistan's wicketkeeper-batsman, Azam Khan, has found himself under intense scrutiny in recent weeks. Despite being just 25 years old, he's faced a barrage of body-shaming and trolling due to his weight, particularly following a dip in form during the England series. While Azam struggled in recent games, dropping catches and facing criticism for his performance behind the stumps, the response on social media has been especially harsh, with fans targeting his weight rather than his cricketing abilities. In the face of this backlash, former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif stepped up to defend Azam Khan. Latif highlighted that the young player does not deserve the level of hate directed towards him and instead emphasized his prowess as a powerful hitter of the cricket ball. Despite his recent struggles, Latif's words serve as a reminder of Azam's potential and talent, urging fans to focus on supporting him rather than tearing him down.

It's a sobering reflection on the double standards and toxicity that can pervade sports culture, where players face criticism not just for their performance but also for aspects of their appearance beyond their control. Azam's case underscores the importance of empathy and understanding in fandom, recognizing that athletes, like anyone else, are human beings with feelings and vulnerabilities. As the T20 World Cup looms on the horizon, Azam Khan will undoubtedly benefit from the support and encouragement of those who see beyond the numbers on the scoreboard to the person behind the player.

“He is under immense pressure. He is being body-shamed, is being trolled. Azam is an exceptional batsman in T20s. He is a clean hitter, plays spinners well, has worked on his game against the pacers. I feel bad for the kid, he is only 25. He doesn’t deserve to be trolled like this,” Rashid Latif was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times. 

Adding to his defense of Azam Khan, Rashid Latif advocated for Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan's premier wicketkeeper-batsman. Latif, aged 55, emphasized Rizwan's suitability for the role and the significance it holds within the team. With Pakistan gearing up for the T20 World Cup 2024, the former cricketer's endorsement of Rizwan suggests a potential change in the team's lineup. Meanwhile, Pakistan's campaign in the tournament will kick off against the USA, the co-hosts, in what promises to be an intriguing encounter reminiscent of their runner-up finish in the 2022 edition.

“Rizwan is Pakistan’s best keeper and has been a warrior for this team. Wicketkeepers run the game from behind the stumps. It is not only about DRS but the other facets of the game as well. Now he is fielding in the deep, which is wrong. Babar doesn’t have that captaincy acumen, he needs Rizwan and if Rizwan is not Pakistan’s keeper, Pakistan will struggle in the World Cup,” Latif added.