Delhi: Former Pakistan cricket team's cricket director and dashing all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez says that his experience as cricket director with star wicketkeeper batsman Azam Khan was extremely disappointing. Hafeez said that he had earlier also persuaded the board and his personal trainer to work on Azam's fitness, but he could not bring any change in the player.

Speaking during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Mohammad Hafeez said that if the entire team covers a distance of 2 km in ten minutes, then Azam Khan would take 20 minutes to do the same.

Mohammad further said that it is sad to say that Azam Khan himself is not showing serious thinking about international cricket. He said that he feels that Khan is not ready for international cricket.

The son of former wicketkeeper Moin Khan has not performed well in the ongoing T20 World Cup. He could not even open his account in the opening match against the United States (USA), as a result of which he was not included in Pakistan's final playing XI for the matches against India on June 9 and against Canada on June 11. Star all-rounder Imad Wasim was given a chance in his place.

You will have to answer in terms of fitness as well – Mohammad Hafeez

Earlier in an interview, Hafeez had said, “Being lean or oversized has never been an issue for me, but you have to work according to the requirements of the game. You need to bring your fitness to the required level. We gave him a fitness plan, but he (Azam) could not improve on it.”

He said, “You are in the team because of your talent, but you also have to answer in terms of fitness. You are the only player in the team with whom we have compromised on the basis of fitness.”