New Delhi: Pakistan opening batter Fakhar Zaman is reportedly said to face no consequences over his remarks criticising Pakistan’s selection over star batter Babar Azam during the ongoing Test series against England at home.
Babar along with the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Sarfaraz Ahmed was dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the second and third Test. The selectors said that they wanted to rest these players considering the busy season for Pakistan for the rest of the year.
Fakhar questioned Babar’s dropping, linking his struggles to Indian batting mainstay Virat Kohli.
“It’s concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam. India didn’t bench Virat Kohli during his rough stretch between 2020 and 2023, when he averaged 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50, respectively,” Fakhar wrote on ‘X’.
“If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced, it could send a deeply negative message across the team. There is still time to avoid pressing the panic button; we should focus on safeguarding our key players rather than undermining them.”
Fakhar was later issued a show-cause notice from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for his lambasting against the team selectors. The 34-year-old left-handed batter was asked by the board that why shouldn’t they take a disciplinary action against him for breaching a clause of his central contract.
According to a report by news agency PTI, a PCB source has said that Fakhar, in his reply to the board, mentioned that he spoke in favour of his teammate and had no intention to challenge the board’s authority.
“Fakhar has said that he has utmost respect for the PCB as it is his institution which employs him and runs the sport in Pakistan,” the source was quoted as saying by PTI.
Babar Azam’s lean patch in Tests
Babar Azam hasn’t been among runs for Pakistan in the red-ball format for close to two years. Since the start of 2023, the Pakistan batter has scored 352 runs at an abysmal average of 20.70 with his best score being 41. He hasn’t scored a half-century in his last 18 Test innings.
