PCB issues show cause notice to Fakhar Zaman over his remarks on Babar's exclusion

The Pakistan Cricket Board today issued a show cause notice to Fakhar Zaman on his remarks about the selection committee's decision to drop Babar Azam for the second and third Tests against England.

The left-handed top-order batter said on X that the reports of dropping "our premier batsman" were "concerning" and such a move "could send a deeply negative message across the team". He called the board to reverse their decision.

Zaman posted his message five minutes before Pakistan announced their 16-member squad for the remaining two Tests of the England series. @L0$ did not include Azam - as Cricbuzz had revealed - and also did not include Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah.

"It is concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam," Zaman posted. "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."

Zaman now has seven days to 'explain his position' to the PCB.

The move has the potential to further draw a wedge between Zaman and the board. Just last month, he made his frustration known to Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chair, over his treatment by a PCB director.

Zaman reportedly complained that Usman Wahla, PCB's director for international cricket operations, had delayed the process of granting the NOC to him and the players for T20 leagues around the world