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Azam Khan vividly recounts his painful dismissal by Mark Wood’s pace at The Oval during Pakistan’s 2024 England tour, describing it as one among his hardest moments in his profession.
Azam Khan recalled his terrible outing that made him cry on the sphere (Instagram)
Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan recently got here out to vividly describe his harrowing experience facing Mark Wood’s express pace during Pakistan’s 2024 tour of England.
Azam candidly recalled, on a recent viral podcast, the challenges faced by Asian batters on fast, bouncy English pitches.
The moment in query occurred throughout the fourth T20I at The Oval, with Pakistan struggling at 84/4 after a promising start. Azam walked in to bat, unaware that his transient stay would grow to be a story retold countless times.
Facing Wood’s first ball, a pointy bouncer, he confidently left it. Azam recalled feeling unfazed initially, noting, “Mark Wood ne mujhe pehla bouncer mara. I left it. I used to be like, ha theek hain. Matlab sahi hain. Humare yaha bhi 150 wale bowler hain. (When Mark Wood bowled by the primary bouncer. I left it. I used to be like, Alright, we’ve 150 kph bowlers in Pakistan too.)”
Nevertheless, the second delivery modified every little thing. Azam described the sheer shock of facing Wood’s searing pace, saying, “When he bowled me that second bouncer. I used to be like, woah, yeh matlab kya hua hain mere saath? Like meri zindagi na ekdum ruk gayi, bhai ye mere saath kya hua hain!!!?? (When he bowled me that second bouncer. I used to be like What has happened to me. My life similar to paused for a second, and I thought of what had just happened to me.)”
The blow struck his glove, and although he and his partner, Usman Khan first thought he was secure, the pain in his pinky finger told a special story. Realising the ball had nicked the glove, Azam decided to not review and started the long, painful walk back, worsened by the abuse from the Oval crowd.
Just A Bad Day
Reflecting on that day, Azam admitted it was one among the hardest of his profession. He dropped a few catches later, and his memory of ‘crying on the bottom with Shadab Khan consoling him’ still lingers. It was a day to forget — one where nothing went his way. Pakistan eventually managed 157 runs, which England chased down in 15.3 overs to seal the series 2-0, but for Azam, the teachings from that day at The Oval were much more personal than any scoreline.
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
November 10, 2025, 12:31 IST
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