Pakistan‘s aggressive opening batsman Fakhar Zaman became famous overnight when he scored a century against India in the Champions Trophy final.
Since then he has been a part of the national team almost permanently but his recent performance has not been remarkable.
Senior sports journalist Abdul Majid Bhatti has claimed that Fakhar Zaman has changed after getting fame and no cricketer has seen how fast his mind has deteriorated. The sports journalist further said that Fakhar Zaman was awarded many titles after the Champions Trophy final match and our media tries to put cricketers on their heads only on one innings.
He said that I have covered big cricketers including Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and even Imran Khan but as fast as Fakhar Zaman’s mind went bad, I have seen very few cricketers. After winning the Pakistani Champions Trophy, I reached Dubai by flight and I also reached Dubai by another flight where I met Fakhar Zaman at the airport but he refused to recognize me.
This is the man who was getting calls from different people before the tour of Zimbabwe and the day he refused to recognize me, I realized that he has changed and few cricketers have changed so quickly. They go, if you are a star, you will tolerate your criticism, but a performance like Fakhar Zaman’s, if there is a captain like Imran Khan, it cannot even enter the dressing room.
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**Interview with Abdul Majid Bhatti, Senior Sports Journalist**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Abdul Majid. You’ve recently made headlines with your comments about Fakhar Zaman’s performance and demeanor since his rise to fame. Could you elaborate on your statement regarding the changes you’ve observed in him?
**Abdul Majid Bhatti:** Absolutely. When Fakhar burst onto the scene with that incredible century against India in the Champions Trophy final, he became an overnight sensation. But since then, I’ve noticed a shift in both his performance and his attitude. It seems as though the fame has affected him more deeply than most understand.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that no cricketer has deteriorated mentally as quickly as Fakhar. What specifics led you to that conclusion?
**Abdul Majid Bhatti:** I’ve covered many legends like Wasim Akram and Imran Khan, and I’ve rarely seen someone change so quickly. I met Fakhar at the airport in Dubai shortly after his performance, and he didn’t even recognize me, despite our previous interactions. This detachment is alarming. It reflects a mindset that seems less focused on the game and more on the allure of stardom.
**Interviewer:** That’s quite striking. Do you think this change in attitude could jeopardize his place in the team, especially with the talk of dropping players like Babar Azam and perhaps even Fakhar himself from the ODI and T20 formats?
**Abdul Majid Bhatti:** Certainly. If a player doesn’t recognize the importance of teamwork and humbleness, especially after having tasted success, it can lead to their downfall. A captain like Imran Khan wouldn’t tolerate such performance and attitude. Talent without discipline is ultimately worthless.
**Interviewer:** In light of your comments, do you think the media is partly to blame for placing undue pressure on players like Fakhar by celebrating them too soon?
**Abdul Majid Bhatti:** Absolutely, the media often elevates players to a status that can be unsustainable. We tend to exalt one brilliant performance while overlooking consistency, which is crucial in cricket. This kind of pressure can lead to quick changes in a player’s psyche.
**Interviewer:** This raises an interesting debate. Given your experience, do you believe the current culture surrounding cricketers creates more harm than good when it comes to their mental health?
**Abdul Majid Bhatti:** Without a doubt. The expectations can be overwhelming. Players need to remain grounded, and the support structures around them, including the media and management, need to focus more on their long-term development rather than short-lived fame.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Abdul Majid, for your insights. Readers, do you agree with Abdul’s assessment of Fakhar Zaman’s situation? Is the pressure of fame causing rifts in our cricketing culture, or is it just a part of the sport’s unpredictable nature? Join the debate!
