Babar Azam returns home, Pre-season fitness camp begins in Karachi

Captain Babar Azam arrived at Allama Iqbal Airport in Lahore on Tuesday morning after Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024. He traveled from New York to Lahore via Dubai. Babar is expected to meet with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi in the coming days to discuss his performance in the tournament.

Following Pakistan's elimination from the T20 World Cup, several players returned home from the United States a week ago. However, Captain Babar Azam, along with Haris Rauf, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, and Mohammad Amir, did not return with the rest of the team.

According to media reports, Babar, Shadab Khan, and other players had reduced their public interactions in the US following heavy criticism from fans and media after the team's early exit from the tournament. This change in behavior came after a viral video showed 30-year-old Haris Rauf confronting a fan who had made negative remarks. Despite attempts by his wife and friends to restrain him, Rauf engaged in a heated verbal altercation with the fan.

Meanwhile, a pre-season fielding and fitness camp has commenced in Karachi. In the morning session, camp commandant Muhammad Masroor briefed the players about the camp's activities.

The players participated in a morning gym session. Out of the 24 camp players, Tayyab Tahir and Mubasir Khan are set to report to the camp tomorrow. Muhammad Wasim Jr. will not participate in the camp as he will complete his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

Players for pre-season fitness and fielding camp - Abdullah Shafique, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Hunain Shah, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Sameen Gul, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir, Umar Amin, Usman Qadir and Zahid Mahmood. One more player will be added to the camp next week.