"I shouldn't have done it": Fakhar Zaman breaks silence on his tweet supporting Babar Azam

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has finally opened up on his tweet in support of Babar Azam which even led to his ouster from the national team. The left-hander openly regretted about his post on X (formerly Twitter) which highlighted his personal opinion.

In his defense, Fakhar Zaman stated that he posted his tweet before the squad announcement and did not intend to demean the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision. The opener also added that he respects the decisions of the board and wouldn't have done it if the squad had been announced.

Babar Azam was going through a rough patch of form in the past few months leading to this incident. During this tough phase, there were calls of dropping him from the national team which Fakhar didn't like and decided to put out a post in support of the star right-hander.

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Fakhar Zaman breaks silence on his tweet in support of Babar Azam

Fakhar Zaman recently spoke on the topic through an interview. He claimed that he didn't intend to criticize the PCB and the people have got him entirely wrong. Zaman added that he made the tweet after seeing the experts criticizing Babar Azam brutally and demanding his ouster from the team.

"It definitely came into my mind that I shouldn't have done it. Basically, there have been thoughts on people's mind that I have criticized the board's (PCB) decision. But this is entirely wrong. I tweeted before the team announcement. I have told everyone that the tweet has been done before the announcement of the team," Zaman said.

"I was watching news from the last 2-3 days prior to the tweet and all the journalists and ex-players were saying that he (Babar Azam) should be dropped. He has done so many services (to Pakistan cricket) and saying that he must be dropped. It was coming on my mind again and again which prompted me do to that tweet," he explained.

Fakhar Zaman regrets on tweeting in support of Babar Azam but clarifies of having no intentions to criticise PCB. #CT25 pic.twitter.com/WgKqRRyzR7

— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) December 23, 2024

"You cannot criticize the board's decision until..." - Fakhar Zaman's advice to youngsters

Further clarifying the issue, Fakhar Zaman revealed that he made the tweet before the squad announcement and wouldn't have done it afterward since he himself is a centrally contracted player.

Fakhar even mentioned that he would advise the youngsters not to criticize the board's decision till they are active players and claims to have cleared his thoughts to the board officials.

"But I tweeted it before the (squad) announcement. I wouldn't have done it after the announcement as I am a cricketer myself and also centrally contracted player of the PCB. I have to play cricket in the future as well," Zaman claimed.

"I will tell the junior players of the upcoming generation that you cannot criticize the board's decision until you are playing even if you have become a big player. So, this is totally wrong that I have criticized the board's decision," he claimed.

"I have even told the board officials that the team has been announced later and I had already tweeted it earlier. If the team had been announced, I wouldn't have done that," the opener concluded.

Fakhar Zaman dropped after his tweet

After his tweet, Fakhar Zaman was not considered for Pakistan's white-ball tour of Australia. The PCB chief reasoned his omission for his unnecessary tweet criticizing the board and his constant fitness concerns.

Fakhar Zaman is currently playing in the Champions T20 Cup, which is a domestic tournament in Pakistan. In his absence, Saim Ayub has performed exceptionally well at the top for the Men in Green.

Fakhar has been a constant figure in Pakistan's white-ball teams over the years. He has the ability to strike the ball hard in the powerplay in provide his team great starts. He will be eyeing a place in Pakistan's squad for the Champions Trophy 2025.