Younis Wants Fakhar Zaman in the team despite not being in the PCB

Younis wants Fakhar Zaman in the team despite not being in the PCB's 'goodbook'

He is not in the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) central contract. He was not included in the Pakistan team's tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa. Although interim coach Aqib Javed has expressed hope that the 'doors of the team are open'; but since he is not in the PCB's 'goodbook', there are doubts about his being called up to the national team soon.

However, at such a time, Fakhar Zaman is getting former Pakistan captain Younis Khan by his side. This former batting coach has called for Fakhar to be brought back to the national team with the Champions Trophy in February-March ahead.

Fakhar Zaman played a match-winning innings of 114 runs in the final of Pakistan's Champions Trophy victory in 2017. The left-hander last played for Pakistan in June against Ireland in the T20 World Cup. Younis Khan has been very vocal in his support for his return to the team. "Fakhar Zaman should definitely be in the team," he told reporters in Karachi today. If Fakhar and Saim play together, we can score 400 in ODIs. PCB has shown its wisdom by supporting the players who have given their all for the team.’

Yesterday, the ICC announced the official schedule of the Champions Trophy. The Champions Trophy will start with the Pakistan-New Zealand match on February 19. Pakistan will not play any matches in the shortened version during this period. Pakistan will play two Tests in South Africa, two more Tests against the West Indies in Karachi and Multan, and then enter the Champions Trophy. Fakhar Zaman last played a Test for the country in 2019. Fakhar is usually played in the shortened version because of his ability to score runs quickly.

Although fitness problems are said to be behind the exclusion of the left-handed opener from the national team, there are rumors that the main reason is different. Fakhar Zaman made a critical post on social media after news broke that Babar Azam was being dropped from the team last October. As a result, the PCB issued him a show-cause notice. Fakhar Zaman responded that the board was 'not happy'. Many believe that Fakhar Zaman was dropped from the central contract because of the ex-post. But whatever the reason, Fakhar Zaman has probably realized the mistake of his actions. In an interview published on PakTV.TV two days ago, Fakhar said, 'Later, I felt that it would have been better not to post. People understood it as criticism of the board, which is 100% wrong.'

Fakhar Zaman claims that his post was directed at Pakistani journalists and former cricketers, who had asked him to drop Babar from the Pakistan team. In Fakhar Zaman words, 'I posted the post three days before the team was announced. Some journalists and former cricketers were saying that Babar should be dropped from the team. It felt like his contribution was being ignored. It was not a criticism of the board.'

Babar was dropped from the team for the second and third Tests of the series in England last October at home. However, rumors of Babar being dropped from the team had already spread. Before the official announcement, Fakhar Zaman wrote in a post on X, "I am hearing that Babar Azam is being dropped, this is worrying. India did not bench Virat Kohli for the bad period of 2020-2023. During that time, Kohli's averages were 19.33, 28.21 and 26.50 respectively."

Fakhar said that he had an understanding with the PCB that he would rest for two months due to the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism (thyroid gland produces excess thyroxine hormone). And he did not know about this disease before the Pakistan team's tour of Australia last month. Fakhar Zaman was not kept in the squad for that tour either. Fakhar Zaman said, "There was an understanding with the PCB that I would rest for two months. Even when the team went to Australia, I did not know about my condition. Later I came to know that I am suffering from hyperthyroidism. I am grateful that I did not go with the team, because one cannot perform in this condition