Fakhar Zaman is currently out of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) central contract. He was also left out of Pakistan’s squads for the Zimbabwe and South Africa tours. While interim coach Aaqib Javed has kept hopes alive by saying the “door is open” for the team, Fakhar’s return to the national side remains uncertain, mainly due to his absence from PCB’s “good books.”
At this critical juncture, former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has come forward to support Fakhar. Ahead of the February-March Champions Trophy, Younis has urged for Fakhar’s inclusion in the national team.
In the 2017 Champions Trophy final, Fakhar played a match-winning knock of 114 runs, helping Pakistan lift the trophy. The left-handed batter last represented Pakistan in June during the T20 World Cup against Ireland. Younis strongly advocated for Fakhar’s comeback, stating, “Fakhar Zaman must be in the team. If Fakhar and Saim play together, we can score even 400 in ODIs. PCB has shown wisdom by supporting players who’ve given their all for the team.”
Yesterday, ICC announced the official schedule for the Champions Trophy, which will kick off with a Pakistan-New Zealand match on February 19. Before that, Pakistan will play no limited-overs games, instead competing in two Test matches in South Africa and another two against West Indies in Karachi and Multan. Fakhar, who last played a Test in 2019, is generally preferred for shorter formats due to his ability to score quickly.
Though fitness issues were cited as the reason for his exclusion from the national team, insiders suggest a different story. Last October, following reports of Babar Azam’s potential exclusion from the team, Fakhar shared a critical post on social media. The PCB responded by issuing a show-cause notice, and despite Fakhar’s reply, the board reportedly remained dissatisfied. Many believe this post led to his removal from the central contract. However, Fakhar seems to have realized his mistake. In a recent interview with PakTV.tv, he admitted, “In hindsight, it would have been better not to post that. People interpreted it as criticism of the board, which was 100% wrong.”
Fakhar clarified that his post was aimed at journalists and former cricketers who were calling for Babar’s exclusion from the team. “I posted it three days before the squad announcement. Some journalists and ex-players suggested dropping Babar, which felt like ignoring his contributions. It wasn’t criticism of the board,” Fakhar explained.
In October, during England’s tour of Pakistan, Babar was dropped from the squad for the second and third Tests, following rumors of his exclusion that had surfaced earlier. Before the official announcement, Fakhar’s social media post read, “Hearing that Babar Azam might be dropped—it’s concerning. India didn’t bench Virat Kohli during his poor form from 2020 to 2023 when his averages were 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50.”
Fakhar also disclosed that he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland produces excessive thyroxine hormones. He said he had an agreement with the PCB to take a two-month rest, but he wasn’t aware of his condition until Pakistan’s Australia tour. “I had an understanding with PCB to rest for two months. At the time of the Australia tour, I didn’t know my condition. Later, I found out I was suffering from hyperthyroidism. I’m grateful I didn’t travel with the team because it’s impossible to perform in such a state,” Fakhar concluded.
