By Mariya Rajput
October 28, 2024
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced its squad for the upcoming Australia tour yesterday, with Babar Azam making a comeback alongside Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah. However, the notable absence of Fakhar Zaman has sparked controversy.
Fakhar, considered Pakistan’s impact player, was surprisingly missed from the squad. Mr Aqib Javed had backed Fakhar as Pakistan’s white-ball captain before joining PCB and dropped him after getting the Selector’s job.
Sources suggest that Fakhar’s vocal criticism of PCB officials’ behavior may have led to his exclusion. The player had openly expressed his concerns to PCB Chairman and also tweeted in favour of Babar Azam after he got rested after first Test match against England.
Allegations point to Usman Wahla, Director of International Cricket, as the driving force behind Fakhar’s snub. The PCB establishment’s handling of players has raised concerns, with some accusing them of adopting a dictatorial approach.
The PCB’s recent central contracts announcement further fuels speculation, with Fakhar notably absent from the list.
