Fakhar Zaman’s hopes of making the squad for the upcoming tour of Australia are hanging by a thread due to persistent knee problems and disciplinary concerns that have recently come to light.
The aggressive batter reportedly failed a crucial fitness test recently casting doubt over his selection for the 3 ODI and 3 T20I series against the Aussies down under.
Upon returning from a lengthy trip to the West Indies, Fakhar was reportedly unable to complete a 2-kilometre run within the required 8-minute time frame, a benchmark set by the selectors. According to sources he is also dealing with a nagging knee injury which has troubled him through the current domestic season. The selectors are worried about more intense international matches, where exacerbating the injury could lead to serious consequences.
Fakhar is also on thin ice with PCB over his recent comments on two separate incidents. First during a recent connection camp regarding his No Objection Certificate (NOC), which did not sit well with some senior members of the Pakistan Cricket Board, although the chairman remains supportive. Following these remarks, Fakhar received a show-cause notice, giving him until Monday to respond, which only adds to the scrutiny surrounding his selection.
The second incident occurred when Fakhar Zaman tweeted support for Babar Azam after being dropped for the England test series, the timing of which was interpreted as a critique of the decision, further souring relations with PCB officials.
While there had been discussions among former cricketers about potentially appointing him as the white-ball captain, his immediate future in the team now seems uncertain. As the selection process looms, all eyes will be on Fakhar Zaman to see if he can turn around his fortunes and secure a place in the squad, or if this will mark a significant downturn in his career.