Fakhar Zaman breaks silence on fitness concerns; Aqib Javed’s statement gets backing amid online exchange

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has publicly addressed concerns over his recent exclusion and fitness status, admitting he was not fully fit to participate in 50-over matches—an admission that has added a new dimension to the ongoing debate around team selection.

In a response to a social media post by former cricketer Abdur Rouf Khan, Fakhar revealed that he had not been “100% fit” during the period in question. He further stated that under those circumstances, the decision taken by Aaqib Javed was justified.

“I was not 100% fit to play 50-over games. In that case, Aaqib Javed was right,” Fakhar wrote, adding that he has since cleared his fitness tests and is now available for selection.

The statement comes amid increasing scrutiny of Pakistan’s selection policies, particularly regarding the balance between player fitness and performance. Fakhar’s candid admission appears to support the management’s stance, which has often been criticized for sidelining experienced players.

Meanwhile, Abdur Rouf Khan responded with a message of encouragement, praising Fakhar’s efforts and emphasizing support for national players. “Great catch anyway. No need to worry. We are here to support our players like you,” he wrote, before indicating he would delete his earlier remarks.

The exchange reflects a rare moment of public alignment between player and management, at a time when Pakistan cricket has been under pressure from former players and fans alike over transparency in decision-making.

With Fakhar now declaring himself fully fit, attention will shift to whether he makes a return to Pakistan’s ODI setup—and how selectors handle similar cases moving forward.