Pakistan’s top order batsman Fakhar Zaman is reportedly disappointed with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision regarding his exclusion from the squad for the recent series.
According to a local media outlet, the 33-year-old is reconsidering his career after not being called up by the national board for the upcoming series against South Africa, scheduled to begin on December 10.
Notably, the opener gets an opportunity to showcase his skills and regain form and fitness in the Champions Cup T20 tournament.
Interim white-ball coach Aqib Javed, in a statement released by the PCB, revealed that Zaman has been excluded from the team due to his current form and fitness.
“Fakhar Zaman was not considered because he is yet to regain his form and fitness,” Aaqib said.
In a surprising turn of events, the left-handed batsman posted a series of photos on his X-handle, showing his improving fitness. He shared photos of his gym workouts with a motivational caption: “Pushing limits and breaking barriers.”
Meanwhile, the PCB on Wednesday announced the white-ball and red-ball teams for the upcoming series against South Africa.
The series, which comprises two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is, is scheduled from December 10 to January 7.
Pakistan squads to tour South Africa:
Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
ODI: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and week), 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, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (no)
T20I: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and week), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (week)
Tour schedule:
• December 10 – First T20I, Durban
• December 13 – Second T20I, Centurion
• December 14 – Third T20I, Johannesburg
• December 17 – First ODI, Paarl
• December 19 – Second ODI, Cape Town
• December 22 – Third ODI, Johannesburg
• December 26th to 30th – First test, Centurion
• 3rd to 7th January – Second test, Cape Town
