Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman excluded from ODI, T20 squads against Australia and misses PCB’s 2024-25 central contract due to fitness issues and social media post.
In an unexpected change of events, stylish Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has been dropped off both the national team and the PCB’s 2024-25 central contract list. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released its 12-month central contracts on Sunday, covering 25 players for the international season beginning July 1 this year. Fakhar’s absence from the ODI and T20 teams for the upcoming series against Australia in Zimbabwe, as well as his deletion from the central contract, have raised doubts, with the board blaming it on fitness concerns and a contentious social media post.
Fakhar Zaman has long been an integral part of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team, recognized for his aggressive batting style and steady efforts. However, recent fitness issues have apparently impacted his effectiveness, jeopardizing his chances for both squad selection and a central contract. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi acknowledged the fitness difficulties, underlining that they are a greater concern than his recent social media activities.
“There was definitely an issue regarding the tweet, but that matters less compared to his fitness test,” Naqvi says. “There were two main issues: the fitness test and a pending show-cause notice.” A decision on the show-cause notice is required, and he must thereafter qualify for the fitness test.”
Fakhar Zaman sent the tweet in question in favor of team captain Babar Azam, shortly before Babar was excluded from the Pakistan Test squad against England. The PCB reportedly sent Fakhar a notice, asking him to justify his decision to publish publicly about the situation. While the PCB chairman admitted that Fakhar’s social media message was noted, he dismissed it.
Fakhar also recently criticized the PCB’s Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, during the “Connection Camp.” Fakhar’s views, which pointed to communication breakdowns within the board, were acknowledged by Naqvi, who stated that Fakhar’s feedback was helpful. “I believe Fakhar spoke very well, and due to some of his inputs, we have fixed many things and are working on them in the international department,” added the manager. However, Naqvi emphasized that such criticisms should not apply to public social media posts.
Meanwhile, the PCB has added five newbies to its core contract list in an effort to incentivize young players. The newcomers—Khurram Shahzad, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Irfan Khan, and Usman Khan—have all been placed in Category ‘D’ as part of the PCB’s continuous strategy to recognize promising talent.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are in Category ‘A,’ followed by Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shan Masood in Category ‘B.’ Category ‘C’ features players such as Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, and Shadab Khan, among others, while Category ‘D’ contains a mix of rising and potential players.
As Pakistan prepares for the forthcoming series, Fakhar Zaman’s exclusion raises questions about his future with the national team. The left-handed opener’s comeback will now be contingent on fixing his fitness issues and responding to the forthcoming show-cause notice, which will undoubtedly influence future contract opportunities and team selections.
Also Read: Fakhar Zaman Replies to the show cause in favor of Babar Azam