Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has found himself in trouble over a social media post questioning the selectors’ decision to drop Babar Azam from the Test squad.
Babar, along with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz Ahmed, was left out of the squad for the remaining two home Tests against England, with Pakistan down 0-1 after a heavy defeat in Multan.
Fakhar voiced his support for Babar on social media platform X, comparing his situation to that of India’s Virat Kohli, who had the backing of selectors during his lean period. However, Fakhar’s comments have not been well-received by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“The top board officials are not pleased with the tweet sent out by Fakhar, and relevant persons are having a word with him about it,” a PCB source revealed.
The source clarified that one of the new selectors, Azhar Ali, had already discussed the decision with Babar. “Azhar made it clear to Babar that he remains an integral part of Pakistan cricket’s future setup and planning,” the source added.
Another new selector, Aqib Javed, admitted it was a challenging selection process. “We’ve had to carefully consider current player form, the urgency to bounce back in the series, and Pakistan’s demanding 2024-25 international schedule. With these factors in mind, we’ve made the decision to rest Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shaheen Shah Afridi,” he explained.
Aqib further expressed hope that this break will help the players return refreshed: “This rest will allow them to regain their fitness, confidence, and composure, ensuring they return in top shape for future challenges.”