Fakhar Zaman, a prominent batter in Pakistan's top order, has sought to clarify his recent comments, which were not well received by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Following Babar Azam's omission from the squad for the final two Tests against England in October 2024, Zaman expressed his support for Azam through a social media post.

Babar Azam's exclusion came after a disappointing performance in the first Test against England. In his message, Fakhar Zaman drew a parallel to the support Virat Kohli received from India during his struggles across various formats, emphasizing that Babar's removal from the team could convey a detrimental message.

Fakhar Zaman has recently expressed regret over his decision to tweet, stating that he "should not have tweeted" as no individual holds greater importance than the cricket board. He further elaborated on his reasoning, indicating that his tweet was made prior to the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) official announcement, driven by the ongoing discussions regarding Babar Azam's potential exclusion from the team.

"Upon reflection, I realized that tweeting was not the right course of action. However, my message was misinterpreted. Many assumed I was criticizing the board's decision, which is entirely inaccurate. The timing of my tweet clearly indicates that it was posted before the board reached its conclusion," Fakhar Zaman explained.

He continued, "For two to three days, I observed various journalists and former players voicing their criticisms of Babar Azam. I found it disheartening, considering all that Babar has contributed to the team, yet there were calls for his removal."

Fakhar Zaman issued show-cause notice

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed discontent with Fakhar Zaman's tweet, subsequently issuing a show-cause notice to him. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi indicated that Zaman's social media post significantly influenced the decision not to include him in the white-ball series against Australia and Zimbabwe.

In response, Fakhar Zaman has advised young cricketers to refrain from criticizing the cricket board, particularly during their active playing careers.

"I observed the situation and shared my thoughts on Twitter. However, I recognize that no individual is greater than the board. I would advise my junior colleagues that regardless of their success, they should not consider themselves above the board and should avoid making criticisms during their playing days," Zaman stated.

He further clarified, "It is important to note that my tweet was made prior to the announcement of the team."

Fakhar Zaman's most recent appearance for Pakistan was in a T20I match against Ireland. Additionally, he was not included in the squad for the white-ball series against South Africa.

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