In a lighthearted moment that’s taken social media by storm, Pakistan’s opening batter Fakhar Zaman cheekily sidestepped a question about star batsman Babar Azam, sparking laughter from his Lahore Qalandars teammates Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
The now-viral video shows Zaman, flanked by Afridi and Rauf, playfully dodging speculation about Babar potentially joining the Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). “Do not mention Babar’s name,” Zaman chuckled, adding a humorous twist that had his teammates grinning.
The exchange showcased the camaraderie between the three players, particularly under Shaheen Afridi’s leadership, which has steered the Qalandars to consecutive PSL titles in 2022 and 2023, with Zaman as a key contributor.
But beneath the laughs lies a recent tension: Fakhar Zaman faced criticism from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after he publicly supported Babar Azam, who had been under fire for his recent form.
In a tweet defending his skipper, Zaman referenced Virat Kohli’s handling during his lean patch, stating, “India didn’t bench Virat Kohli during his rough patch. If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman… it could send a deeply negative message across the team.”
The PCB was reportedly unhappy with Zaman’s statement, leading to his omission from the ODI series against Australia and a show-cause notice to go with it.
The issue seems to have settled down in recent weeks with Zaman expected to earn a recall to the national side soon. With the Champions Trophy right around the corner, Pakistan will be hoping to have the old Fakhar back in the team.