Fakhar Zaman drew criticism on social media after suggesting that Babar Azam should not be dropped from the Pakistan squad for the remaining Tests against England, despite his poor performance. The opener compared Babar's lean patch with Virat Kohli's tough period between 2020-2023, when he averaged only 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50. The post received negative responses from netizens and Babar was eventually dropped from the squad.
Pakistani cricketer Fakhar Zaman expressed his concern over the decision to drop star batter Babar Azam, who has seen a dip in his form in recent times. Zaman drew a comparison to Indian cricket star Virat Kohli, who was not benched by the Indian team even during a rough patch. Zaman believes that dropping Azam could send a negative message to the team.
Pakistan's decision to drop Babar Azam from the Test squad for the remainder of the series against England has sparked a controversy. Star batsman Fakhar Zaman lashed out at the team management for not "safeguarding" their premier players, citing the example of India's Virat Kohli who struggled for three years but was never benched. Along with Babar, the team management also rested pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, further raising concerns about the direction of the team. The decision also comes amid reports of a spin-friendly pitch being prepared for the second Test, which could have influenced the management's decision to drop the pace duo.
Hardik Pandya achieved a major milestone by taking the crucial wicket of Fakhar Zaman in the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in New York. In doing so, he surpassed Irfan Pathan's record for the most wickets in the tournament by an Indian pacer. Jasprit Bumrah also contributed to India's victory with three wickets, while veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin leads the overall bowling chart for India in the T20 World Cup.
England dominated Pakistan in the second T20 international at Edgbaston Cricket Ground. Captain Jos Buttler's explosive knock of 84 runs off 51 balls set the tone for England's win by 23 runs. Pakistan's top order struggled against England's bowling, with Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub both falling for ducks. Despite contributions from Fakhar Zaman and skipper Babar Azam, England's total was too much for Pakistan to chase down, with Jofra Archer taking two wickets in his return to international cricket.
In a high-stakes match for both teams, Pakistan struggled to chase down England's 183 for 7 in the second T20I of the series. Despite a valiant effort from opener Fakhar Zaman, who scored 36 off 22, Pakistan ultimately fell short by 45 runs. England's Moeen Ali was the star of the match, taking the wickets of top Pakistan batters. This is a crucial series for both sides as they prepare for the T20 World Cup.
Fakhar Zaman, the power-hitting batter for Pakistan’s cricket team, recently admitted that their recent loss to Ireland has made them realize the need to adopt a more aggressive approach while batting in T20I games. Zaman mentioned that the team has set a target of 200-plus runs while batting first and that coach Gary Kirsten has quickly gelled with the team and has a friendly approach towards them. With the ICC World Cup approaching, Pakistan is looking to play with an aggressive mindset and aim for high scores.
In a thrilling match-up between two fierce rivals, Karachi Kings came out victorious against Lahore Qalandars by three wickets on the last ball of the game. With this win, Karachi keeps their hopes alive for a place in the playoffs, while Lahore's chances have been dashed. Shoaib Malik's unbeaten 27 runs, including a boundary on the final delivery, sealed the win for Karachi, while Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique's half-centuries were not enough for Lahore. Karachi's captain, Shan Masood, made a strategic decision to demote himself in the batting lineup, which ultimately proved to be successful.
New Zealand's pace bowler Adam Milne claimed four wickets to lead his team to a 21-run victory over Pakistan in the second Twenty20 international, giving them a 2-0 series lead. Pakistan's pursuit of New Zealand's 194-8 total was hampered by Babar Azam's dismissal for 66 and Fakhar Zaman's power-packed 50, as they were bowled out for 173. The Black Caps' triumph was marked by captain Kane Williamson's retirement due to a hamstring injury, casting doubt on his availability for the rest of the five-match series.