Pakistan cricket team is likely to get rocked again with reports suggesting that destructive batter Fakhar Zaman is ready to walk away from international cricket. The left-hander is reportedly unhappy about being left of PCB’s central contract list despite being a cornerstone of Pakistan’s limited overs side.
According to sources close to Fakhar, the veteran batter’s morale has taken a hit after being denied his B-category contract this year. fakhar has also called into question PCB’s inconsistent fitness standards.
Reports indicate that Fakhar, despite nursing a knee issue, was asked to undergo another fitness test in January 2025, but he questions the selection fairness. While he couldn’t complete the mandatory 2-kilometre run in eight minutes, it’s alleged that Usman Khan, who reportedly stopped short in his own fitness test, has secured a contract and placed on the upcoming tours.
Other cases add to the scrutiny over the PCB’s fitness evaluations: Imam-ul-Haq reportedly missed the mark by just a few seconds, clocking in at 8:11, yet found himself excluded from contracts, while Kamran Ghulam, who finished at 8:22, retained his contract. Similarly, Naseem Shah received a B category contract despite fewer wickets than Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s top wicket-taker since mid-2023, was moved down from A to B category.
The internet was quick to point out Fakhar Zaman’s open support of Babar Azam following his dismissal from the team as the reason for his exclusion from the Australia tour and contracted players, a fact Mohsin Naqvi admitted to already.
There is hope that Fakhar will be rewarded with a contract after an upcoming fitness test but if he walks away from the international scene, is likely to shift to franchise cricket.