Fakhar Zaman is under increasing scrutiny, and his recent actions may lead to his exclusion from Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia. The 34-year-old cricketer sparked controversy earlier this month by publicly supporting Babar Azam after his exclusion from Pakistan’s playing XI against England.
In a viral tweet, Fakhar criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and questioned their decision-making. His public comments drew significant backlash from the board, resulting in the PCB issuing him a show-cause notice to explain his actions.
Compounding Fakhar’s troubles are fitness concerns, particularly regarding his knee. After returning from the CPL 2024 season in the Caribbean, he failed a fitness test, unable to complete a two-kilometer run in under eight minutes. Reports suggest he is struggling with knee issues, and despite this, he played in the President’s Cup Grade-I (1-Day) matches for the Pakistan Television team, which may have further strained his knee.
Fakhar has also made candid remarks about the PCB’s new policies regarding No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players wishing to participate in overseas T20 leagues. While there has been speculation about him being a potential captaincy replacement for Pakistan’s white-ball setup after Babar Azam, his spot on the squad for Australia is far from secure.
The Pakistan cricket team is scheduled to tour Australia in November for a series of three ODIs and three T20Is. With his recent challenges, Fakhar Zaman’s place in the team hangs in the balance as the tour approaches.
