The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today issued a show-cause notice to Fakhar Zaman regarding his comments about the selection committee’s decision to drop Babar Azam for the second and third Tests against England.
The left-handed top-order batter expressed his concerns on X, stating that the reports of dropping “our premier batsman” were “concerning” and that such a decision “could send a deeply negative message across the team.”
He urged the board to reconsider their choice.
Zaman shared his message just five minutes before Pakistan announced their 16-member squad for the remaining two Tests of the England series, which, as revealed by Cricpulse, did not include Azam, Shaheen Afridi, or Naseem Shah.
“It is concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam,” Zaman tweeted.
“India didn’t bench Virat Kohli during his rough patch between 2020 and 2023, when he averaged 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50, respectively.
If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman—arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced—it could send a deeply negative message across the team.
There is still time to avoid pressing the panic button; we should focus on safeguarding our key players rather than undermining them.”
Zaman now has seven days to explain his position to the PCB.
This move could further exacerbate tensions between Zaman and the board.
Just last month, he expressed his frustration to PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi regarding his treatment by a PCB director.
Zaman reportedly complained that Usman Wahla, the PCB’s director for international cricket operations, had delayed granting him and other players the No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in T20 leagues around the world.
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