Fakhar Zaman issued with show-cause notice by the PCB over the former’s tweet on Babar Azam’s ouster from the test side.
Fakhar Zaman is entangled in a dispute with the PCB. Following his exclusion from the Pakistan team, Babar Azam received a show-cause notice from the cricket board due to a social media post. Before the PCB had officially revealed the team, Fakhar took to X (previously Twitter) as rumours spread that Babar had been left off of Pakistan’s squad for the second and third Tests.
He called the move “concerning.” He states that it might send a “deeply negative message across the board” to “sideline arguably the best batter Pakistan has ever produced.” Instead of “undermining” players, he urged the PCB to “safeguard” them.
The PCB has strongly objected to the post. They state that the batter has been given a show-cause notice for tarnishing the reputation of the game in Pakistan. They claim that Fakhar had an obligation as a player under central contract to refrain from publicly criticising his employer. It is understood that they are miffed that Fakhar chose not to voice any concerns in private.
Fakhar was only served with the notice yesterday, and he has not replied. Whether he accepts the allegation or not will determine the punishment for the alleged code of conduct violation. Thus far, Fakhar has not provided any additional commentary, and the post is still live on X.
Babar’s decision to sit out the remaining of the series has been explained by the PCB. It is as a rest before the white-ball series in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. However, in light of the significance of this series—in which Pakistan is already down 1. And the fact that Babar volunteered to continue playing the Test. It becomes more difficult to defend that in this environment. Having failed to make a half-century in the last 18 innings, he has been out of form in Test cricket for the better part of two years.