Home
Pakistan’s discarded wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan admitted that India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav was not wrong when he said that the ‘rivalry’ between the two teams is non-existent in recent years. Suryakumar made the comment after the Super Fours stage clash in the T20 Asia Cup 2025. The comment did not sit well with Pakistan players. However, Pakistan’s winless run against India continued as Suryakumar-led side won the T20 Asia Cup 2025, beating Salman Agha’s team in the final.
“If you see the ICC tournaments, I think... I don’t know if I should say this, but technically he is correct,” said the son of Pakistan’s legendary wicketkeeper, Moin Khan, in a conversation with Cricwick.
What Suryakumar said during the T20 Asia Cup 2025?
“I feel we should stop asking questions about the [India-Pakistan] rivalry. What matters is whether a team plays good cricket or not,” the Indian skipper said in a press conference.
“According to me, if two teams play 15–20 matches and it’s 7-all or 8–7, then that’s a rivalry. But 13–0 or 10–1... I don’t know what the stats are, but this is no longer a rivalry.”
Asia Cup Trophy row continues
Meanwhile, the Asia Cup Trophy row continues. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi has kept the trophy for himself as India chose to take the trophy from him amidst sour relations between two countries following terror attacks. As Naqvi remains adamant on giving the trophy only if there is a felicitation ceremony where he's present, the matter will be discussed at ICC's board meeting in Dubai this week.
Azam’s long absence
The 27-year-old has been out of Pakistan's side for over a year. His last appearance for Pakistan was against USA in their infamous loss at T20 World Cup 2024. Azam’s father, Moin feels that it was abrupt to see the team’s strategy change after just one match, keeping the wicketkeeper out of the mix.
“I watched the entire World Cup and the matches leading up to it, and it seemed like Azam was the number one choice for wicketkeeping and batting,” Moin told Cricket Pakistan. “Then suddenly, after just one match, the entire strategy changed.”
Azam Khan’s T20I numbers -
So far, he has played 14 T20Is for Pakistan. From 13 innings, he has scored 88 runs at an average of 8.80 and strike rate of 133.33. His T20I career-best of unbeaten 30 came against Ireland.
ADVERTISEMENT
