Islamabad United’s captain, Shadab Khan, has strongly defended teammate Azam Khan\u2019s fitness following their impressive six-wicket victory over Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025. In a post-match press conference, Shadab addressed concerns about Azam’s physical condition and its potential impact on his performance. He emphasized the wicketkeeper-batter’s significant value to the franchise, asserting that his contribution far outweighs fitness concerns. \u201cThere shouldn\u2019t be any questions about Azam\u2019s fitness; we can cover for him,\u201d Shadab stated. \u201cI\u2019m not saying he should necessarily be in the Pakistan team, but our franchise is covering for him, and he always performs for IU. For us, his performance matters more than his fitness,\u201d he added. Azam Khan played a crucial role in Islamabad United’s successful chase of 129 in just 17.1 overs. Opening the innings alongside Sahibzada Farhan, Azam contributed a steady 31 off 30 balls. While Farhan\u2019s quick-fire 30 set the tone for the chase, Shadab Khan\u2019s vital 47 off 40 anchored the team. Mohammad Nawaz then sealed the win with a match-winning strike. Earlier, Islamabad United’s bowlers, including Shadab (2-17) and Naseem Shah (2-29), delivered a dominant performance, restricting Karachi Kings to a total of 128\/7. Tim Seifert\u2019s 30 was the top score for Karachi. With this win, Shadab-led Islamabad United remain unbeaten in the tournament, securing four wins from as many games. They sit atop the points table with eight points and will next face Multan Sultans on April 23 at Multan Cricket Stadium.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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