Don’t want to bowl to Azam: Jamal

He concludes by stressing the importance of backing players

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 was that in a white ball, you have only two or three options. There are not many options. You can either bowl Yorker, Slow, or Bouncer,” Aamer said.

“Whenever I bowled to Azam, he has hit me very badly. He hit me very fast. When I bowled to him in the last match, I told him not to hit straight because I couldn’t have time to blink,” he added. The right-arm pacer addressed these concerns, suggesting that the keeper-batter is under pressure due to his struggles. He emphasized the need for confidence and support.

“The standards of international and league cricket are very different. Your confidence in the league is different when you go to the international league. Although you have performed well, when the next team comes against you, they have worked on you and told you not to play here and there and that this is his strong zone. You have to struggle for that. You have to make your shot selection different when you go to the international league,” 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. Otherwise being a player, I will never criticize Azam. I think if you want to develop a player, the process will be that if you give him a start in the conditions that he has performed, his confidence level builds and boosts and he will give you performances in any condition,” he concluded.