Fakhar Should Focus More On His On-Field Performance, Says Shoaib Akhtar

Rawalpindi Express aka Shoaib Akhtar has once again stepped into the limelight with his fiery remarks about the PCB. 

Earlier this month, 34-year-old opener Fakhar Zaman expressed his disappointment with the PCB after he was not selected for the ongoing Pakistan tour of South Africa 2024. 

The extent of Fakhar’s disappointment was such that he hinted at getting an early retirement because he didn’t see himself playing international cricket in the near future. 

Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar decided to step in and resolve the ongoing conflict between Fakhar Zaman and the Pakistan Cricket Board. 

The Rawalpindi Express vocalized his concerns regarding Zaman’s prolonged exclusion from the white-ball format and blamed the situation on internal "ego clashes" within the team management.  

"Fakhar Zaman is a talented and dedicated player, but he has been sidelined unnecessarily due to personal differences," stated Akhtar. "Even if he is not part of the team today, Pakistan will need him eventually," he added.  

After taking a dig at the PCB, the pacer also turned the direction of his fiery remarks towards Zaman. 

"Fakhar needs to let his bat speak. Avoid unnecessary statements and prove yourself with consistent performances," Akhtar added.  

He advised the opening batsman to focus more on his game rather than wasting time in giving statements against the cricket board. 

The PCB had stated a lack of fitness and form as the main reason behind Fakhar Zaman not getting selected for the PAK vs SA ODI and T20I squad. 

However, Fakhar, currently playing in the Champions T20 Cup, banished these claims, declaring his eagerness to represent Pakistan. "I am fully fit and performing in this tournament. If given the opportunity, I’m ready to play for my country," Fakhar said.  

Fakhar Zaman mentioned starting his international cricket  journey with the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and is desperately looking forward to replicating those performances in the Champions Trophy 2025.