Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi has clarified the reasons for excluding Fakhar Zaman from Central Contract list and white-ball squads for upcoming tours to Australia and Zimbabwe.
In a recent press conference focused on the white-ball captaincy announcement, Naqvi addressed questions surrounding the omission of the dynamic opener.
He disclosed that the recent tweet from the left-hander in support of former captain, Babar Azam, following his exclusion from the Test squad during the England series, had prompted a show-cause notice, which was one factor in the decision.
However, Naqvi emphasized that performance of the Mardan-born cricketer in a recent fitness test also weighed heavily in the final call.
Fakhar’s support for Babar Azam on social media has added to recent tensions within Pakistani cricket. His open criticism of PCB policies, particularly on No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for league participation, had previously stirred debate among fans and officials alike.
After Babar’s removal from the Test squad, Fakhar tweeted that the star batsman, a “world-class performer,” deserved more support from the PCB.
