Pakistan’s Azam Khan found himself at the center of social media criticism following his dismissal for a golden duck in the T20 World Cup 2024 match against the United States. The batter, who has been struggling for form, faced severe trolling after being trapped LBW by Nosthush Kenjige on the first delivery he faced.
Khan’s lackluster performance comes on the heels of a series of low scores and fielding errors during the T20I series against England, drawing ire from fans and pundits alike. Social media users were quick to question Khan’s place in the team, with some referencing the ongoing ‘nepotism’ debate due to his lineage as the son of former Pakistan captain Moin Khan.
If Nepotism & forced entry had a face..
Azam Khan..
BUt PCB has no shame..#USAvspAk #PakvUSA #PakvsUSA #USAvPAKBobsy fakhar Rizwan usman Babar Azam pic.twitter.com/2fSj0xPwHC— Imperial Tiffin (@Yash_Dhawan_) June 6, 2024
The defeat against the United States compounds Pakistan’s recent woes, as they entered the tournament on the back of a disappointing T20 series loss to England. In contrast, the United States secured a commanding seven-wicket victory against Canada in their opening match, positioning themselves second in Group A standings with two points.
Speaking ahead of the match, US skipper Monank Patel expressed his team’s determination to maintain their winning momentum and emphasized the importance of playing their best cricket. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Babar Azam confirmed that Imad Wasim’s injury would result in the team fielding four pacers against the United States, opting to bat first on what he described as a fresh pitch.
The lineups for the match saw Pakistan fielding a formidable XI, with Babar Azam Khan leading the side and notable contributions expected from Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Amir. The United States countered with a strong lineup, featuring Steven Taylor, Corey Anderson, and Ali Khan among others.
As the T20 World Cup 2024 progresses, Pakistan faces the challenge of regaining their form while the United States aims to capitalize on their early success to advance in the tournament.
