Srinagar: Pakistan flamboyant batter and opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. According to reports, the opening batter is down with muscular pain, and the scans have confirmed the injury. He will not be travelling to Dubai for the clash against India on February 23.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced Imam-ul-Haq as the replacement. Fakhar was injured during the opening game against New Zealand in Karachi. He tried to stop a ball from crossing the boundary rope but suffered an injury in the process.
The team physio attended him near the sidelines before he returned to the dressing room. Fakhar returned to the field after a long break, which impacted his batting order as well.
He didn’t open for the team and came out to bat at No.4 slot. The left-handed couldn’t find his range and was seen struggling while batting. He scored 24 runs off 41 balls, with the help of 4 boundaries, before Michael Bracewell ended his stay at the crease.
His absence is a big blow for the Men in Green as they need to beat India and Bangladesh in the next two matches to keep their semi-final hope alive in the tournament.
