The former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif is back on the opinionated side of the under-fire wicket-keeper Azam Khan, who has been struggling both with his form in batting and keeping.
The son of former Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan, Azam who is a heavyset character has recently undergone torrid body shaming attacks via online trolling owing to his weight.
The power-hitter has been going through a lean patch with the bat and to go with that, his keeping skills and poor fielding have resulted in him being body shamed.
Azam’s body-shaming refers to many abuses such as gainda, aloo, sifarshi, parchi, mota, nepotism and baby elephant among others. This is where Rashid Latif used his voice in support of the young player against such an obscene act.
“He is under immense pressure. He is being body shamed, is being trolled. Azam Khan is an exceptional batsman in T20s. He hits clean sixes without any effort; he knows how to face spinners very well; he has improved playing fast bowlers but for me Azam Khan can’t be a good keeper because I think he lacks experience apart from fitness issues since he has just started at international level,” said Latif talking to The Indian Express.
“I will not blame the player. Mohammad Haris is fit, more agile and in good form. If you wanted a third ‘keeper, he should have been the ideal choice. I will not comment on Azam’s physique but I can say about his batting; what kind of shape it was or even say something about his selection part.”
“We live in a racist society. If someone’s skin colour is black we call them kaalu. If someone is fair then we label them gora so if somebody happens to be tall they are lambu whereas if one happens to be skinny they are patlu. I mean, that’s just sad for the guy, he is just 25. It shouldn’t be like this,” he concluded with sympathy.
For last 10 international games, his scores have been – 0, 11, 18, 30, 0, 30, 22, 18, 0 and 9.
In recent matches the youngster has also missed out on a number of catches behind the stumps playing for Pakistan.
Before the T20 World Cup in England, Pakistan lost their four-match T20I series against them by two-zero margin.
On June six in Dallas, Babar Azam and Co start their first game of T20 World Cup against United States.
