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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a significant change to its central contracts list, removing veteran batsman Fakhar Zaman after his public criticism of the board's decision to rest Babar Azam during the England Test series. The decision to remove Zaman from the list for the 2024-25 season comes just weeks after he expressed his discontent on social media, criticizing the board's strategy for resting their star batsman in the middle of a crucial series.
Zaman, who previously held a Category B contract, voiced his displeasure on his social media account, a move that did not sit well with PCB officials. The board subsequently issued a 'show cause' notice to Zaman for his public criticism, leading to the eventual withdrawal of his central contract. This marks the first time in eight years that Zaman will be without a central contract, a significant setback for the experienced batsman.
The news of Zaman's exclusion from the central contracts comes shortly after Pakistan's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, where they were eliminated in the first stage following losses to the USA and India. While Zaman's absence from the team during the World Cup might have contributed to the decision, his outspoken criticism of the PCB's decisions seems to have played a crucial role in his removal.
Apart from Zaman, other notable names missing from the new list of contracted players include Iftikhar Ahmed, Hassan Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Imam-ul-Haq. However, the list also saw several new additions, including Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khurram Shahzad, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Ali, and Usman Khan, all of whom are placed in Category D. The promotion of Test captain Shan Masood to Category B from Category D reflects his crucial role in Pakistan's historic 2-1 series win over Ben Stokes' England. Conversely, young fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who missed the last two Tests of the series, has been demoted to Category B.
The PCB's decision to remove Zaman from the central contracts list highlights the board's stance on public criticism from players. While the decision might be seen as a strong message, it also raises concerns about the freedom of expression for players and their ability to voice their opinions openly. With Zaman now out of the central contract, it remains to be seen how he will respond to this setback and what the future holds for his cricketing career.
Source: Fakhar Zaman loses Pakistan central contract after defending Babar Azam