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According to reports, Pakistan star batsman Fakhar Zaman is considering retirement after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) snubbed him from the recently announced central contract list . Notably, Fakhar Zaman was also excluded for the white-ball series against Zimbabwe and Australia following his tweet criticizing the board for dropping Babar Azam after Pakistan’s defeat in the first Test against England .
While there have been reports surfacing of the Pakistan batter being left out of the central contract after his tweet in support of Babar Azam, he is also said to fail fitness tests. Moreover, there have been questions on the unfair selection process amid all this, he has been given an opportunity to prove his fitness in January 2025, but is mulling retirement.
Fitness is the major issue: PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi
If reports are to be believed, Fakhar Zaman is quite disturbed by the way the board and selection committee handled his case. PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi meanwhile opened up on his snub from the central contract list of players on Sunday, October 27. According to Naqvi, the primary reason on Fakhar Zaman’s snub was his fitness concerns and the fact that his show-cause notice was still pending.
“Look, Fakhar Zaman tweet matters, but fitness is major issue. There are two major issues in his fitness. There is also a pending show cause notice against him which is yet to be decided. That is why he has been excluded,” Mohsin Naqvi said. However, the 34-year-old player still hasn't made any decision regarding his retirement, he has been advised to refrain from making any emotional decisions.
Disparity in players' treatment concerns Fakhar
Fakhar Zaman wasn’t the only one failing the fitness tests. Imam-ul-Haq was dropped from contracts after finishing his run in eight minutes and eleven seconds, just missing the mark. In the meantime, Kamran Ghulam secured a contract after finishing in eight minutes and 22 seconds.
Furthermore, Naseem Shah was given a B-category contract even though he has fewer wickets than Haris Rauf within the same time frame. Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan's top wicket-taker in all forms since July 2023, was dropped from the A division to the B division.
