Pakistan’s Azam Khan Opens Up on Weight Issues and Future Plans

In recent years, very few players in Pakistan cricket have divided opinions among fans as much as Azam Khan. The young wicket-keeper batter has all the skills of a modern cricketer—big hitting ability, quick scoring, and natural talent—but there is one problem that continues to overshadow his career: his fitness.

Since his debut in 2021, almost every discussion about Azam Khan has been less about his cricketing skills and more about his weight and fitness struggles. Now, at the age of 27, Azam has finally spoken openly about the challenges that have slowed down his progress. In a candid interview with PakPassion, he admitted how tough it has been to balance his game with his physical condition.

“Right now, I am in Lahore and trying to work on my fitness and game at the NCA. My weight loss won’t happen in a couple of weeks or days—it needs time,” Azam explained.

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He also revealed the main reason why fitness has always been a problem for him.

“For the past four or five years, I have been playing a lot of cricket, so I didn’t have the chance to properly focus on my fitness.”

Even though he has not been a regular part of Pakistan’s national squad, Azam Khan has become a familiar face in T20 leagues around the world. Surrounded by top international stars, his poor fitness often went unnoticed, which perhaps made him less serious about addressing the issue. However, he now admits that some of his unhealthy eating habits also played a role.

“I had some bad eating habits, but that’s not an excuse anymore,” he said honestly.

Azam Khan last represented Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup, and though he has been away from the team since then, he is still hopeful of making a comeback. For him, the only way forward is to put in consistent hard work and prove that he belongs at the highest level.

“The plan is to play at the highest level, and for that, you have to train to be the best. Many players have played internationally but then disappeared. If I want to sustain myself, I need to work twice as hard as I am now,” Azam stressed.

Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson has already set clear standards regarding fitness, and Azam knows that if he wants another chance with the national side, he has to meet those requirements.

Despite all the setbacks, Azam Khan remains determined to change his story. His new dedication towards fitness shows that he is not ready to give up just yet. If he succeeds in turning things around, his natural power-hitting ability could make him an ideal fit for Pakistan’s new-look team, which is eager to move forward with a more modern approach to the game.

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