Turmoil in Pakistan Team: PCB Forces Star Power-Hitter to Retire

The biggest question in Pakistan is why Fakhar Zaman was left out.

Fakhar Zaman

Pakistan cricket team’s explosive batsman Fakhar Zaman may bid farewell to international cricket. The left-handed batsman was not included in Pakistan’s squad for the Zimbabwe and Australia series, and he has also been left out of the central contract list. Disheartened by this, Fakhar is reportedly considering retirement from international cricket. According to Pakistan’s media, this decision by the PCB has deeply shaken Fakhar Zaman, and he may now take the major step of retiring.

Why was Fakhar Zaman dropped?

The biggest question in Pakistan is why Fakhar Zaman was left out. The PCB stated that Fakhar failed the fitness test, leading to this decision. However, Fakhar’s fans claim that his support for Babar Azam has worked against him. After Babar Azam was dropped from the Test team, Fakhar expressed his surprise over the decision on social media, after which the PCB issued him a notice. Following this, Fakhar failed the fitness test, was excluded from the team, and is now absent from the central contract list.

Will Fakhar remain out until next year?

According to media reports, Fakhar Zaman is expected to remain out of the Pakistani team for the next two months. His next fitness test is scheduled for January 2025, and only if he passes it will he be considered for the Pakistani team in the Champions Trophy. The 34-year-old player reportedly failed to complete the 2 km run within the required 8 minutes due to a knee injury. Meanwhile, Usman Khan has been granted a central contract, even though he also did not complete the fitness test.