Fakhar Zaman opens up about fitness struggles after South Africa tour snub

Fakhar is currently representing Markhors' squad in the ongoing Champions T20 Cup

Pakistan’s explosive left-handed opener, Fakhar Zaman, has addressed the speculation surrounding his fitness after being excluded from the national squad for the upcoming South Africa tour.

Fakhar, who is currently part of the Markhors squad in the ongoing Champions T20 Cup, was questioned about his physical condition and prospects of returning to the national team during an interview after his side’s opening match against Lions.

In response to the fitness concerns, Fakhar confidently stated that he is in good form and ready to play whenever given the opportunity.

“I’m fit, and that’s why I’m playing. If there is a chance, I will play,” he said. Reflecting on his career, he added, “I started my career at the Champions Trophy, and I’m thankful for my performances there, which helped the team win matches. In this Champions Trophy, my only goal is to play well and help my team win.”

Fakhar, who has been a key player for Pakistan in recent years, was dropped from the country's white-ball squads during their recent tours of Australia and Zimbabwe.

Zaman was also excluded from the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) central contracts for the first time in eight years. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that both fitness issues and Zaman’s controversial social media comments played a role in the decision.

Naqvi addressed the issue during a recent press conference, acknowledging that Zaman’s public criticism of the selection committee’s decision to drop Babar Azam from the Test squad was a contributing factor. However, he emphasised that Zaman’s failure to pass the fitness test was the primary reason for his exclusion.

“There is an issue regarding his tweet, but it is not as important as his fitness,” Naqvi said. "He is also facing a show-cause notice, but the main concern is his fitness test, which he failed to clear."

Zaman had criticised the selection committee's decision to drop Babar mid-series, a move that the PCB found unacceptable. Naqvi made it clear that players are not allowed to publicly criticise internal selection decisions. "We cannot tolerate players commenting publicly on selection issues. If the selection committee decides not to play a player, others cannot start tweeting in protest. This will not be allowed," Naqvi stated.