Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has formally responded to the show-cause notice issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in connection with a tweet related to Babar Azam.
The batter expressed his frustration on social media platform X, when the former caption was dropped from the Test side for the second and third Test matches against England.
Fakhar expressed his concerns regarding Babar’s exclusion, drawing a parallel to India’s treatment of former captain Virat Kohli.
“It’s concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam,” Fakhar wrote. “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,” he added.
Following that, he was issued a show-cause notice by the board asking clarification regarding his tweet.
Fakhar reiterated his respect for the board, stating that his comments were made out of concern for a friend and a fellow player.
“Babar Azam is one of the best batters in the world, and that’s why I felt compelled to express my opinion,” Fakhar clarified. “I believe Babar Azam deserved a chance during tough times, reflecting on the PCB’s central contract as a fellow player.”
He concluded by affirming, “The PCB is our institution, and we will continue to respect it.”
