Fitness Concerns Behind Babar Azam’s Exclusion Clarified
Lahore: The confusion surrounding whether Babar Azam was dropped or sidelined due to fitness issues has finally been resolved, with sources confirming that fitness concerns played a key role.
According to reports, the selection committee initially left Babar Azam out of the squad for the Bangladesh tour due to his poor performance in the ICC T20 World Cup. However, head coach Mike Hesson later stated that Babar had not been dropped but was rested to give opportunities to younger players.
The situation became more confusing after a joint press conference where Aaqib Javed revealed that both Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman were dealing with fitness issues, raising questions about how they were included in the World Cup squad.
Sources now claim that both players participated in the T20 World Cup despite not being fully fit, which significantly affected their performances. It was also revealed that selectors were unaware of their incomplete fitness and had relied on clearance reports from team physiotherapist Cliff Deacon.
Further concerns emerged when Babar Azam withdrew from the National T20 Cup citing minor leg discomfort. Upon examination by Dr Javed Mughal, the injury appeared more serious than initially thought. Similarly, Fakhar Zaman was also found to be not fully fit.
The issue has raised broader concerns about player fitness management within the Pakistan Cricket Board. Reports also indicated that Mohammad Rizwan was not fully fit during the recent Bangladesh tour, while young batter Moazzam Sadaqat sustained an injury before the third match but still had to play due to a shortage of players.
Team management has also expressed dissatisfaction with the fitness levels and pressure-handling abilities of several young players, many of whom appeared better suited for shorter formats rather than 50-over matches.
The PCB is now working on a comprehensive plan to ensure that players undergo strict fitness assessments before being cleared for national team selection in future series.
