The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a show-cause notice to opener Fakhar Zaman on Sunday night following his social media post supporting Babar Azam, who was recently excluded from the national squad for the upcoming second and third Tests against England.
Before Babar’s removal, speculation was rife when Fakhar voiced concerns on ‘X’, a social media platform, about the potential negative impact of Babar’s absence on the team. He posted on Saturday, expressing his reservations about dropping Babar and referenced India’s approach with Virat Kohli during his challenging period from 2020 to 2023. Fakhar emphasized the importance of supporting key players instead of sidelining them.
A PCB spokesperson explained on Monday that Fakhar’s comments breached his central contract, which restricts public criticisms of PCB policies. Fakhar was asked to respond to the notice by October 21, with potential penalties pending based on his response.
Babar, along with prominent players Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfraz Ahmed, were dropped following Pakistan’s defeat by England in the first Test at Multan. The selection committee, now including Azhar Ali, Aaqib Javed, and Aleem Dar, cited the need for rest as the reason for their exclusion, sparking debate among fans and former players.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the decision on ‘X’, particularly questioning the exclusion of Babar, labelling it a surprise and potentially foolish unless it was at Babar’s request.
Sources revealed that Babar was advised to rest in a Saturday meeting with former teammate Azhar. Additionally, Shaheen and Naseem reported minor injuries to the PCB on the same day and requested time off to recover.
Read: Babar Azam Out as Pakistan Announces 2nd Test Squad Against England
