The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a show cause notice to Fakhar Zaman for allegedly breaching the players’ code of conduct. This action comes after Fakhar criticized the board’s decision to exclude Babar Azam from the squad for the second and third Tests against England in a recent social media post.
Fakhar questioned the decision, highlighting that India did not bench Virat Kohli during his struggles between 2020 and 2023 when Kohli had low averages of 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50. He expressed concern that sidelining Babar, arguably Pakistan’s best batsman, could send a negative message to the team. Fakhar emphasized the need to support key players instead of undermining them.
Pakistan lost the first Test match despite scoring 556 runs in their first innings. Following this loss, the PCB dropped Babar Azam, former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, and star bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah from the squad for the remaining two Tests. The board has brought in younger players in their place.
The PCB defended its decision, stating it was made in the best interest of Pakistan cricket. A PCB spokesperson explained that the players were rested to return refreshed for future matches. The board also announced a reconstitution of the men’s selection committee, appointing new members Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, and Hassan Cheema.
