Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @fakharzaman719
Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman is expected to receive only a reprimand for criticizing the PCB ahead of the squad announcement, which considered dropping former captain Babar Azam for two Tests against England.
Azam, along with several senior players, was eventually dropped for two Tests shortly after Fakhar expressed his discontent on social media.
Fakhar received a show-cause notice from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after tweeting his comparison of Azam’s form to India’s Virat Kohli, who struggled between 2020 and late 2022.
“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.”
England are touring Pakistan for three Tests, with the hosts leveling the series in the second Test after the visitors, led by Ben Stokes, won the opener in Multan.
Babar, along with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz Ahmed, was eventually dropped.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
