Aaqib Javed: “Fakhar is a match-winning player. He had fitness issues, but if he improves, the selection committee will definitely reconsider him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Interim Pakistan white-ball head coach Aaqib Javed has confirmed that big-hitting batsman Fakhar Zaman will be reconsidered for selection once his fitness improves.
Zaman was not given a central contract for the 2024/25 season and was also dropped for Pakistan’s recent limited overs series against Australia and Zimbabwe.
Many people believe this stemmed from his criticism of Pakistan’s decision to drop batsman Babar Azam midway through the three-Test series against England in October 2024.
However, Javed made it clear that the 34-year-old has some “fitness issues” but can reclaim a spot in the national team as he is “a match-winning player”.
“Fakhar is a match-winning player. He had fitness issues, but if he improves, the selection committee will definitely reconsider him,” he was quoted as saying by Samaa TV.
During their tour of Australia, Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1 before being whitewashed 3-0 in the T20Is.
They then went to Zimbabwe and triumphed 2-1 in both the ODI and T20I series.
Next up for Pakistan will be a tour of South Africa, which will consist of three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests, but Zaman was not selected once again.
The T20I series will begin on December 10, while the ODI and Test series will start on December 17 and December 26 respectively.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
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