Fakhar Zaman Clarifies PCB Misunderstandings

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding his exclusion from the national team and clarified his stance regarding recent allegations against him during his very public discord with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The former mainstay of the national team was omitted from the central contracts for the 2024-25 season and kept out of the recent touring parties after taking to Twitter to support Babar Azam amidst his struggles against England. 

Fakhar’s tweet, which was published just days before the squad announcement for the second and third matches of the England Test series, garnered significant attention. In his message, Fakhar expressed unwavering support for Babar Azam, who was rested for the final fixtures. This move coincided with reports indicating that Fakhar might be dropped from upcoming tours to Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, allegedly due to his vocal stance which he was.

In a recent interview with a private media outlet, Fakhar Zaman vehemently denied any intent to criticize the PCB. “Later on, I did think it would have been better if I hadn’t posted the tweet. But people misunderstood it as criticism of the board’s decision, which is 100% wrong,” he stated. Fakhar clarified that his tweet was a direct response to journalists and former cricketers who advocated for Babar’s removal from the squad, emphasizing his respect for the PCB’s decisions.

Fakhar Zaman’s last appearance for Pakistan was during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in June. In his absence, Saim Ayub has firmly established himself as Pakistan’s long-term solution to the order but his opening companion remains a mystery given Abdullah Shafique’s struggles. Fakhar has been proving himself in the domestic fixtures and it will not be a surprise if he earns a recall during Pakistan’s upcoming tri-series at home against New Zealand and South Africa ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.