A growing controversy has erupted within Pakistan cricket following the exclusion of captain Babar Azam from the country’s Test squad for the upcoming second and third Tests. Fakhar Zaman, the Pakistani batter, has become embroiled in a dispute with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after he took to social media to voice his concerns over Babar’s omission, leading the board to issue a show-cause notice against him.
The controversy began after news of Babar’s exclusion from the squad was leaked before the PCB had made an official announcement. Fakhar Zaman, who is currently a centrally contracted player, expressed his dismay via X (formerly known as Twitter), calling the decision “concerning.” He went on to criticize the move, stating that sidelining one of Pakistan’s most talented and arguably the best batter in the nation’s history could send a “deeply negative message” and risk undermining the morale of the team.
Fakhar’s post, which was made before the PCB had confirmed the squad publicly, urged the board to “safeguard” players rather than “undermine them.” His comments, however, did not sit well with the PCB, which swiftly responded by issuing him a show-cause notice for violating the board’s code of conduct.
The PCB told *ESPNcricinfo* that Fakhar’s comments were inappropriate and amounted to bringing the game in Pakistan into disrepute. As a centrally contracted player, Fakhar has an obligation to raise concerns through the appropriate internal channels, rather than airing grievances publicly. The board expressed disappointment that Fakhar did not address his concerns in private before making them public.
The PCB also clarified that Babar’s exclusion from the Test squad was not a punishment, but a “rest” ahead of the upcoming white-ball series against Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. However, the rationale for the rest has been met with skepticism, as the ongoing Test series is crucial, with Pakistan trailing 1-0 in the series. The decision also raises questions, given that Babar, despite his recent struggles with form, had expressed his willingness to play and did not request to be rested.
Babar has struggled to find his form in Test cricket, failing to score a half-century in his last 18 innings, which has added complexity to the decision. His omission, coming at such a critical juncture in the series, has raised eyebrows, with many suggesting that the timing of the move and the reasoning behind it could undermine the team’s morale.
As of now, Fakhar has not responded publicly to the show-cause notice, which was issued just yesterday. The PCB’s next steps will depend on whether Fakhar accepts the charge and offers a response. His social media post, which remains up on X, continues to fuel the debate surrounding Babar Azam’s exclusion and the larger issues within the Pakistan cricket setup.
The situation remains fluid, with the cricketing world closely watching how the PCB will handle the fallout and whether Fakhar Zaman will choose to defend his stance or engage in private dialogue with the board.
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