Selectors Probe Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman Injury Mystery Following World Cup Exit

LAHORE: Pakistan men’s selection committee has formally requested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to conduct an inquiry into the alleged injuries of senior batters Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, according to committee member Aaqib Javed.

Pakistan, champions in 2009, failed to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup and are currently playing a three-match away ODI series against Bangladesh. The squad for the series excludes six key players, including Babar and Fakhar. Their absence, despite strong performances in the longer formats, has drawn criticism from fans accusing the selectors of “format mixing”.

Fitness Concerns Behind Player Exclusion

The selection committee stated that the decision to leave out Babar and Fakhar was based on fitness concerns rather than performance. Speaking at a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium, Javed, alongside selectors Sarfaraz Ahmed, Asad Shafiq, and Misbah-ul-Haq, confirmed that both players sustained injuries during the T20 World Cup and that the committee was only made aware of the severity after the tournament.

“Some players were not included in this series [against Bangladesh]. Concerning Babar Azam's injury, when he came back from there (the T20 World Cup), our doctor also examined him. The injury he has is not allowing him to play this series, or the National T20 Cup... he wanted to play that but he is injured,” Javed said.

He added, “Fakhar is also injured, on this, we have also requested the cricket board for an inquiry. How can it be that Fakhar is also unfit, that only after the World Cup is over, these two players' injuries have come to us? During the World Cup, when they were playing, was their fitness not being taken care of? Were they in the squad without being fully fit? We are selectors; we should know these things.”

Emphasis on Youth Selection

Addressing concerns over the squad for the Bangladesh series, Javed emphasised that the inclusion of six uncapped players was planned in advance. “But we had already decided beforehand that we would send younger players like Maaz Sadaqat, etc., for this series after the T20 World Cup. We had already decided before the World Cup that we would not send a full-strength squad here. We have done this since the Zimbabwe series [in 2024]. Play new players, so you have more options,” he stated.

The selection committee’s request for an inquiry reflects ongoing scrutiny over player management and injury protocols following the national team’s underperformance at the T20 World Cup.