HAMILTON: Pakistan’s batting coach, Adam Hollioake has backed wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan despite consecutive failures in the first two T20Is against New Zealand.
Azam Khan returned with scores of 10 and 2 in the two matches against New Zealand, which Pakistan lost by 46 and 21 runs respectively.
However, Adam Hollioake, during the post-match conference after the second T20I, showed confidence in the abilities of the 25-year-old batter.
“Azam Khan is a destructive batsman, I mean unfortunately tonight he came in and he really needed to go straight away and he got out. One of those things where if it works you look great if it doesn’t work you look stupid,” said Hollioake.
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“He’s an exciting player, a big hitter, though he hasn’t shown it in these two games. Expect him to shine in the future,” he added.
Hollioake also appreciated the competitiveness in Pakistan’s squad, with talented players sitting outside, hinting at potential changes in upcoming matches.
“Azam [Khan] is a talented guy but there are lots of talented guys in the squad so you just have to see what the pitch is and what the makeup of the team is in the next game,” said Hollioake.
Pakistan team bundled out at 173 while chasing 195 runs against New Zealand in the second T20I match, with only three batters reaching double figures.
The two teams will square off in the third T20I University Oval in Dunedin on 17 January.
Pakistan squad for the tour of New Zealand
Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Zaman Khan, Aamir Jamal, Azam Khan (wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Haseebullah Khan (wk) and Abbas Afridi.
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