Aqib Javed criticised over Babar Azam fitness, selection committee questions

LAHORE: Director of High Performance for the Pakistan Cricket Board, Aqib Javed, faced criticism on social media after he appeared to avoid questions during a press conference on Saturday.

A journalist asked whether the Pakistan Cricket Board had issued any formal notification regarding Babar Azam, who is reportedly on rest following his unexpected performance in key matches of the India-gained 2026 T20 World Cup. Another question sought clarification on whether members of the selection committee were present in person for all matches of the national-level tournament being held in Peshawar.

Javed mentioned the name of the chief selector but appeared confused while replying, leaving fans astonished. He then abruptly changed the topic and asked Mishab Ul Haq to take another question.

Social media users criticised Javed’s response, with one fan commenting, “Shame on him,” while another praised the journalist, saying, “Salute to the journalist.”

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It is confirmed that Babar Azam is currently out due to injury and is being managed accordingly. However, there is no publicly reported formal fitness declaration from PCB stating he is officially unfit.

ICC fines Salman Ali Agha for code of conduct breach

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fined Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during a match against the Bangladesh national cricket team.

Salman Ali Agha was handed one demerit point after being run out, an incident that prompted him to throw his gloves and helmet onto the ground in frustration. The ICC confirmed that the player admitted his mistake, which led to the sanction.

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The incident occurred during Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh, highlighting the ICC’s strict enforcement of conduct rules.