After Babar Azam was dropped by the Pakistan Cricket Board from the squad for the remaining two Test matches against England, Fakhar Zaman seems engaged in an argument with PCB, as cricket board has issued him with a show-cause notice for his post on social media. The top board members are not satisfied with Fakhar’s tweet. While it was not publicity announced that Babar had been excluded from Pakistan’s squad for the second and third Test matches, Fakhar took to X (formerly Twitter) before the PCB had officially declared the squad.
He described the development as “concerning” saying “side lining arguably the best batter Pakistan has ever produced” risked sending g a “deeply negative message across the board”. He mentioned to the PCB to “safeguard” players rather than “undermine them”.
The PCB has taken strong action against the post, saying that the batter had been issued a show-cause notice for bringing the game in Pakistan into disrepute. They have alleged that as a centrally contracted player, Fakhar had a responsibility not to make such comments against his employer in public. They are understood to be disappointed. Fakhar did not raise any complaints privately.
It’s concerning to hear news about dropping Babar Azam. India didn’t rejected Virat Kohli during his tough time between 2020 and 2023, when he averaged 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50, respectively. If we are considering side lining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan batter. Fakhar Zaman (@FakharZamanLive) October 13, 2024
Fakhar has yet to respond to a notice regarding an alleged breach of the code of conduct, which was issued recently, and his penalty will be determined based on his response and acceptance of the charges. Currently, there has been no additional comment from him, and the relevant post on X remains active.
The selection committee, which includes former Test cricketers, Azhar Ali and Aaqib Javed, along with recently retired international umpire Aleem Dar, stated that Babar has been rested from the squad for the remaining series to take rest ahead of the upcoming white-ball series in Australia, and Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
“There is no question that Babar Azam is our best batter, he is number one with a superb technique,” Azhar Mehmood said while announcing the squad.
“The selection committee decided that with so much cricket coming this is the best time to rest him. Babar is not dropped, he is rested. He was willing to play but for the best interest of Babar and for the team we have rested him.”
Babar has not been able to play his best in Test cricket for the last two years, he couldn’t even score a fifty in the last 18 innings. However, many fans and pundits believe that the matter could have been handled in a better way. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfraz Ahmed have been also dropped from the test squad. It remains to be seen how Pakistan’s inexplicable changes fare for the team. They yet have to play two Test matches against England.
