Fakhar in hot water over contract breach, fitness issue

ISLAMABAD: White-ball cricket specialist Fakhar Zaman may lose a place on the Central Contract list after failing fitness test for the third time. Well-placed sources told ‘The News’ that his place on the list of contractual players for the next year is in doubt as he has failed to achieve the required fitness level three times in a row.

“Unless and until he clears the fitness test and also satisfies the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about his breaching the code of conduct, he may not be able to get his contract renewed,” the source confirmed.

Fakhar is already under investigation for breaching the Central Contract clauses by using a social media platform to speak against the selection committee’s decision to sideline Babar Azam from the second Test.

The top-order batsman billed the decision on Babar as unjust and the one that would send a bad message to the rest of the experienced players. He also cited India’s premier batsman Virat Kohli’s example who for the three years running (2020-23) averaged around 23 per innings yet the selectors kept faith in him.

The PCB has already served a show-cause notice to Fakhar asking him to explain why he has used social media platform to criticise the election committee. He has been asked to submit his reply by October 21. Disciplinary action will be taken against Fakhar if he fails to furnish a reply in time or his answer would be unsatisfactory.

Meanwhile, his fitness issues and the PCB’s resolve not to consider failed players further puts Fakhar in hot waters. With the new-look Pakistan selection already in the final stages of announcing the team for the white-ball series against Australia, Fakhar could be a casualty, in case he continues failing fitness tests or fails to tender an apology for the Tweet (X) he posted in Babar’s favour.

“Passing fitness tests has been made mandatory. It is more important for those who are not busy playing for the country at the moment. His Tweet or X is also a breach of Central Contract clauses. Besides the selection on the team for the tour Down Under, his inclusion on the Central Contract recipient list is also doubtful,” a source confirmed.