Fakhar Zaman defends Babar Azam after exclusion from squad

WEB DESK: Fakhar Zaman defended fellow Pakistani batsman Babar Azam on Monday following the decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to drop him after the national team’s historic defeat against England in their first test.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Zaman expressed concern for the cricket team’s decision to drop Babar Azam for the second test.

“India didn’t bench Virat Kohli during his rough stretch between 2020 and 2023, when he averaged 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50, respectively,” wrote Zaman.

According to a board insider, the PCB were displeased with the comments, finding Zaman’s remarks to be unnecessary interference in the board’s selection process.

In Pakistan’s most recent test match, Azam scored 35 runs across both innings, including 30 in the first and five in the second. In his two outings against Bangladesh in August, Azam scored 22 runs in the first match, and 42 in the second.

Squad announced for second, third test against England

His disappointing performances in test matches stretch back to the beginning of 2023. Azam’s 161 in the first innings against New Zealand in December of 2022 was the last time he scored a century or fifty in tests.

“If we are considering side-lining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced, it could send a deeply negative message across the team,” Zaman wrote in his aforementioned post.

Before losing to England in the last test, former Pakistan test captain Shan Masood said that support for the players was of paramount importance in a press conference.

“To make any team, you need to back the players,” Masood said, advocating for “consistency in the selection.”

Selection disputes arise ahead of Pakistan’s second test against England

After losing to England, Masood stated that “we’re going to give it our all, and we’re going to try and turn this around,” later adding that “the beauty of the game is it always gives you another chance. Life gives you another chance.”

Sources have stated that the PCB will remove Shan Masood as test captain after the end of the test series against England.