Pakistan cricket is witnessing an intense off-field controversy involving explosive batter Fakhar Zaman, who was recently excluded from PCB’s central contract list. His exclusion has stirred discussions, especially following his recent tweet supporting Babar Azam, which openly questioned the PCB’s decision to omit Babar from the Test squad against England. Fakhar also drew comparisons between Babar and Virat Kohli, leading to a show-cause notice from the PCB.
In a press conference on Sunday, PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi shed light on the decision, confirming that Fakhar’s tweet was a factor, but hinted at deeper issues. “The tweet was one issue,” Naqvi explained, “but the bigger matter was that of fitness. There is a show-cause notice pending against him, and we will see about that. His point of view was valued in the Connection Camp, and I appreciate that, but you cannot go around commenting on the selection committee’s decisions. The bigger issue remains selection and fitness.”
The PCB’s newly released central contract list saw other notable exclusions, including Iftikhar Ahmed and Sarfaraz Ahmed. Fakhar now faces added pressure to meet fitness requirements, with his cricketing future hanging in the balance.
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Mohammad Rizwan Appointed New White-Ball Captain
In a significant development, the PCB announced Mohammad Rizwan as the new white-ball captain, succeeding Babar Azam. Babar stepped down amid reported internal disagreements that impacted his performance. Salman Ali Agha, who impressed in the recent Test series against England, has been named Rizwan’s vice-captain for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour. With Pakistan also set to tour Australia soon, Rizwan faces a crucial test as he steps into his new leadership role.