Fakhar Zaman set to retire? Pakistani batter considering extreme step after losing central contract

Pakistan cricket star Fakhar Zaman is considering retirement after losing his central contract. According to various reports, the veteran batter and only Pakistani batter to score a ODI double ton has lost his motivation. PCB had removed Fakhar Zaman from his central contract after his tweet in support of Babar Azam being dropped for the England Tests. 

Babar Azam managed to retain his top spot in Category A along with newly appointed ODI and T20I skipper Mohammad Rizwan. The left-handed batter was placed in Category B last year and was part of the team to play in the T20 World Cup 2024. 

Pakistani fans on Monday got to know that their white ball coach Gary Kirsten had stepped down. The move comes just six months after taking charge. Jason Gillespie has been named as the new coach of the ODI and T20I sides. Gary Kirsten fell out with the PCB after feeling disappointed with his selection powers being taken away. 

Mohsin Naqvi slams Fakhar Zaman for his tweet

Current PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi addressed the media on Sunday and spoke on a variety of topics. One of the questions posed to him was about Fakhar Zaman who wasn’t awarded a new contract. 

Mohsin Naqvi said “There is an issue regarding his tweet, but it is not as important as his fitness Test. There is one showcase notice pending on him. This is why we have not named in the central contracts list,"

PCB chief also said “It cannot happen like that if the selection committee is not playing one player, then the other players start tweeting to express their displeasure. Players are not allowed to function like this, and we will never allow that. The main issue with him is his fitness Test, that he was not able to clear”

The 34-year-old has played 82 ODI games for Pakistan and scored 3492 runs with an average of 46. The left-handed batter scored a key ton for his side during the infamous Champions Trophy final against India which his side went on to win. He also hit 11 centuries and 16 fifties with a best of 210 not out. 

In the T20I format, Fakhar Zaman had played 92 games and scored 1848 runs. Zaman has 11 fifties to his credit with an average of 22 and a strike rate of 132. His last game for Pakistan came during the T20 World Cup against Ireland where he scored five runs.