Did Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman Play the 2026 T20 World Cup Under False Pretenses? Will the PCB Take Action Against Both Batsmen?

The Pakistan squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup included players who were physically unfit. Among them were Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. Although neither batsman was fully fit during the tournament, they were included in the squad nonetheless. The consequence of this was that the Pakistan team failed to qualify for the semi-finals; they missed out on reaching the knockout stage of an ICC event for the fourth consecutive time.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has come under scrutiny due to the presence of injured players within the squad. The team’s Medical Director, Javed Mughal, has expressed concerns regarding the players’ injuries. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s physiotherapist, Cliff Deacon, is facing allegations of declaring unfit players as fit—accusations that have been leveled against him on previous occasions as well.

PCB Under Scrutiny

A report by the PTI reveals that Dr. Javed Ghulam—who joined the team as Medical Director earlier this year—has raised concerns regarding the players’ injuries. This issue came to light following an assessment of the players’ fitness levels. Furthermore, the most pressing questions revolve around the T20 World Cup; both players were struggling with hamstring issues, yet they were included in the squad regardless.

According to sources, medical examinations of Babar Azam have revealed that his injury has worsened. Similar information has also emerged regarding Fakhar Zaman, who has been battling injuries for several months. The team management had previously informed the national selectors that Deacon had declared these players fit; however, despite not being fully fit, they were subsequently included in the squad.

Babar Azam Working on Fitness

Babar Azam is currently undergoing rehabilitation for his injury at the National Cricket Academy, under the supervision of the PCB’s medical team. It is expected that he will regain full fitness before the start of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Babar captains the Peshawar Zalmi franchise in the PSL, a tournament scheduled to commence on March 26. Meanwhile, Fakhar has made his return in the National T20 Cup. Although he was not fit for the Bangladesh tour, it is now expected that he will be seen playing in the PSL.