Pakistan’s cricket team has been dealt a major setback as opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the remainder of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday.
The left-handed batter sustained a muscular injury while fielding in Pakistan’s opening match against New Zealand at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on February 19. He landed awkwardly in the first over and had to leave the field for medical attention.
Read More: Champions Trophy: PCB Issues Update on Fakhar Zaman’s Injury
Following a detailed medical evaluation, the PCB confirmed that Zaman would not recover in time to participate in the rest of the tournament. As a result, he did not travel with the team to Dubai for the upcoming fixtures.
To address the void in the batting lineup, the PCB has approached the ICC Technical Committee for approval of a replacement. According to sources, Imam-ul-Haq is the leading candidate to step in as an opener.
Meanwhile, Zaman has been advised to undergo rehabilitation at the High Performance Centre in Lahore.
Pakistan is under pressure after losing their first match by 60 runs against New Zealand. With a crucial match against India scheduled for February 23, the team faces an uphill battle to stay in contention, especially with Zaman’s absence disrupting their top-order plans.
