LAHORE — The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has clarified that former captain Babar Azam did not participate in the ongoing National T20 Cup or the ODI series against Bangladesh due to an injury sustained after the T20 World Cup.

Speaking at a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, selector Aqib Javed said Babar Azam had intended to take part in domestic T20 cricket but was unable to do so because of fitness concerns. According to Aqib, a medical examination after the World Cup confirmed the issue, which prevented the batter from returning to competitive cricket.

Aqib Javed was joined at the briefing by former cricketers Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq, who are also part of Pakistan’s cricket setup.

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The selector said the injuries of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman are currently under review, with the board assessing whether player fitness was properly monitored during the T20 World Cup campaign and whether adequate medical checks were carried out when the squad was assembled.

He emphasized that squad selection is a collective process involving the selection committee, team captain and coaching staff, rather than a decision taken by a single individual.

Aqib also explained that the ongoing ODI series against Bangladesh has been used as an opportunity to rest certain senior players and test new combinations in the squad.

The PCB has not publicly provided a detailed medical update outlining when Babar Azam’s injury occurred during the T20 World Cup. For now, officials maintain that his absence from recent domestic and international matches is linked to fitness concerns and is being reviewed internally.