Confusion surrounding the omission of Babar Azam from the national squad has finally been clarified, as conflicting statements from officials exposed underlying fitness concerns rather than mere rotation.
According to sources, the selection committee had initially left Babar out of the squad for the Bangladesh tour due to his underwhelming performance in the ICC event. However, head coach Mike Hesson later maintained that the former captain had not been dropped, insisting he was rested to allow opportunities for younger players.
The situation became murkier when, during a joint press conference, selector Aaqib Javed revealed that both Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman were sidelined due to fitness issues. He also indicated that the board would investigate how such concerns went unnoticed, especially since neither player had participated in competitive cricket after the World Cup.
Sources now claim that both players featured in the tournament despite incomplete fitness, which significantly affected Babar’s performance. It has been further revealed that selectors were unaware of the situation and had relied on clearance reports issued by team physio Cliff Deacon.
The matter came to light when Babar opted out of the ongoing National T20 Cup, citing minor leg discomfort. However, upon examination by UK-based sports medicine expert Dr Javed Mughal, the injury was found to be more serious than initially assumed.
Similarly, Fakhar Zaman was also assessed as not fully fit, raising serious questions over their inclusion in the World Cup squad. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials are now probing the sequence of events to determine responsibility.
Sources added that during the Bangladesh tour, Mohammad Rizwan was also not fully fit, while young batter Moazzam Sadaqat sustained an injury ahead of the third match. Due to a shortage of available players, he was still fielded but bowled only one over.
Earlier, Shamil Hussain had also suffered a neck injury, further exposing concerns over squad fitness.
Team management has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the fitness levels of emerging players, along with concerns over their inability to cope with pressure. Most youngsters, sources say, appeared better suited to the shorter T20 format and struggled in longer matches.
In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board is now preparing a comprehensive policy under which players will only be cleared for national duty after undergoing rigorous fitness assessments ahead of each series.