Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam (Photo AFP) The Pakistan Cricket Board is set to investigate injuries to star batsmen Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman after concerns were raised over their fitness following the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.During a press conference, Pakistan coach and former fast bowler Aaqib Javed revealed that the selection committee had asked the PCB to investigate how the two players sustained the injuries and why the issue only surfaced after the tournament.
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Aaqib Javed, who was speaking along with fellow selection committee members Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq, said the selectors were not aware that Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman had injuries during the World Cup.
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The selectors have now asked the PCB to review the circumstances of the injury and whether correct fitness information was communicated during the tournament.“Fakhar is also injured – we have also asked the cricket board to investigate in this regard. How is it possible that Fakhar is also unfit and we only found out after the World Cup?” Aaqib said.“When you go to the World Cup, whatever health problems or injuries you have, your head coach and physio should inform everyone. As selectors, we should know these things.”
Babar Azam out of Bangladesh series
Aaqib Javed also clarified why Babar Azam was not included in the Pakistan squad for the ongoing ODI series against the Bangladesh national cricket team. According to the selector, the former Pakistan captain is currently dealing with an injury that has ruled him out of the Bangladesh series as well as the domestic T20 National Cup.“Babar Azam is facing injury that’s why he was not included against Bangladesh. He also wanted to play the national T20 cup but his health condition did not allow him,” explained Aaqib.“Whether it was visible to you or me is not important. But if a player is injured in training or in a game, it should be known how it happens and when it happens.”Aaqib even questioned whether the players would have been declared fit had Pakistan progressed further in the tournament.“The situation today is that Babar Azam is not fit to play and Fakhar Zaman is not fit to play. If we get to the semi-finals, would they suddenly be fit? That is the question.”
Young players were given an opportunity
Aaqib also revealed that the team management had already planned to send a younger team for the Bangladesh series after the World Cup. The selection committee has experimented with emerging players in recent bilateral series, a similar approach used during Pakistan’s 2024 tour of Zimbabwe.“We already decided before the World Cup that we would not send a full-strength squad here. We wanted to give an opportunity to younger players so that we would have more options in the future,” he said.
