Aamer Jamal reveals toughest opponent to bowl to in Pakistan squad

Allrounder stresses importance of backing Azam Khan through tough phases in international cricket

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Pakistan Test fast bowler Aamer Jamal has revealed surprising insights about the toughest batter he faces within the national team.

Contrary to expectations, Jamal did not mention the widely regarded top batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Instead, he singled out Azam Khan as the most challenging opponent.

Jamal highlighted Khan's formidable hitting ability, noting that the keeper-batter has consistently outperformed him in matches.

“In Pakistan, I don't want to bowl to Azam (Khan). The reason is that in white-ball cricket, you have only two or three options. You can either bowl a yorker, a slower ball, or a bouncer," Aamer said.

“Whenever I bowled to Azam, he hit me very badly. He hits the ball very hard. When I bowled to him in the last match, I told him not to hit straight because I didn’t even have time to blink,” he added.

The right-arm pacer also addressed the pressure Khan is under due to his struggles in international cricket. He emphasised the need for confidence and support.

“The standards of international and league cricket are very different. Your confidence in the league is different from when you go to the international level. Although you may have performed well in the leagues, when you face international teams, they have studied you, identified your strengths and weaknesses, and you have to adapt your shot selection accordingly,” he said.

Jamal concluded by stressing the importance of backing players through difficult phases.

"I think Azam is under pressure because he didn't have a good start, whether it was his debut or comeback. As a player, I will never criticise Azam. If you want to develop a player, the process should be to give him opportunities in conditions where he has performed well. This builds his confidence and boosts his performance, enabling him to deliver in any condition,” he concluded.

Azam Khan is a standout batter in Pakistan cricket, known for his powerful hitting. With impressive performances in franchise cricket globally, he has amassed 3,242 runs in 166 T20 matches at a strike rate of around 150, including one century and 16 half-centuries.

However, he has struggled to meet expectations in international cricket and has faced criticism for his performances with the Pakistan team.