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When Fakhar Zaman Compared Babar Azam To Virat Kohli And Left PCB Furious

Jatin

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Virat Kohli [Source: AFP Photos]Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Virat Kohli [Source: AFP Photos]

The Pakistan cricket circuit has never been short of drama and Babar Azam’s recent omission has once again stirred the pot. With the PCB dropping the star batter from the Asia Cup 2025 squad, many have been left scratching their heads.

Fakhar Zaman Drew PCB Wrath After Backing Babar Azam

But this isn’t the first time Babar Azam’s absence from a squad sparked controversy. Back in 2024, when he was left out of the Test side against England, Fakhar Zaman stood up for his teammate and it didn’t go down too well with the PCB.

When the selectors announced the squad for the Multan and Rawalpindi Tests against England without Babar, Fakhar Zaman took to social media and voiced his displeasure. His words were strong and clear.

“It’s concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam. 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. If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced, it could send a deeply negative message across the team. There is still time to avoid pressing the panic button; we should focus on safeguarding our key players rather than undermining them.”

The post saw support from fans but within PCB headquarters, it was seen as overstepping the line.

PCB Not Pleased

A PCB insider later revealed,

“The top board officials are not pleased with the tweet sent out by Fakhar and relevant persons are having a word with him about it.”

For the board, it wasn’t just about the message, it was about a player publicly questioning the selection panel.

What The Selectors Said

The selectors, meanwhile, insisted there was no malice in the call to rest Babar. Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali, part of the selection committee, had a detailed chat with the star batter.

“Azhar made it clear to Babar that he remained an integral part of Pakistan cricket’s future set-up and planning,” the source explained.

Another selector, Aaqib Javed, also shed light on the decision.

“We’ve had to carefully consider current player form, the urgency to bounce back in the series and Pakistan’s demanding 2024-25 international schedule. With these factors in mind and in the best interest of Pakistan cricket as well as the players, we’ve made the decision to rest Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi.”

He further added that the selectors were confident the break would help the big names recharge. 

For fans, Fakhar’s words reflected their own frustrations. For the PCB, it showed that even inside the dressing room, Babar’s stature was too big to ignore. One thing is for sure, whether he is in the XI or not, Babar Azam continues to be at the centre of Pakistan cricket’s biggest talking points.