Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign has been hit with another setback as opening batter Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. In response, the ICC Event Technical Committee has approved the inclusion of Imam-ul-Haq as his replacement in the squad.
Zaman sustained the injury during Pakistan’s opening match against New Zealand at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on February 19. The incident occurred in the first over when New Zealand’s Will Young played a shot through the covers off Shaheen Afridi’s delivery. Zaman sprinted to stop the ball and managed to palm it back to Babar Azam, but he immediately showed signs of discomfort, clutching his lower back and signaling for medical attention. Although he walked off the field without assistance, he was forced to leave the game temporarily. He later returned to the field after New Zealand lost their second wicket in the ninth over.
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Despite the injury, Zaman continued to bat and contributed 24 runs off 41 balls, including four boundaries. However, after further medical assessment, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that his injury was serious enough to rule him out of the remainder of the tournament. The board later announced that Zaman would not be traveling with the squad to Dubai for their next match.
The ICC Event Technical Committee, comprising Wasim Khan, Usman Wahla, Sarah Edgar, and former South African cricketer Shaun Pollock, approved the squad change, bringing Imam-ul-Haq into the team. Imam, an experienced top-order batter, is expected to fill the gap left by Zaman in Pakistan’s batting lineup.
Pakistan has already faced a similar injury issue in the tournament. Saim Ayub was ruled out after suffering a fracture while chasing a ball toward the boundary during a Test match against South Africa. Ayub, initially part of Pakistan’s ODI squad, had to be replaced by Zaman, who made an immediate impact by scoring 84 off 69 balls and 41 off 28 in his first two matches back in the team.
Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has expressed his disappointment after being ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to injury. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed his exclusion on Thursday, following medical assessments that determined he would be unable to continue in the tournament.
Taking to social media platform X, Fakhar shared his thoughts on missing out on the remainder of the competition, promising to return stronger.
“Representing Pakistan on the biggest stage is an honour and a dream of every cricketer in this country. I have been privileged enough to represent Pakistan multiple times with pride. Unfortunately, I’m now out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but surely Allah is the best planner. Grateful for the opportunity. I will be backing our boys in green from home. This is only just the beginning, the comeback will be stronger than the setback. Pakistan Zindabad,” Fakhar posted.
The injury setback occurred during Pakistan’s opening match against New Zealand at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on February 19. While fielding in the very first over, Fakhar strained his lower back while attempting to stop a shot from New Zealand’s Will Young, who had driven a delivery from Shaheen Afridi through the covers. Zaman sprinted to intercept the ball and managed to palm it back to Babar Azam for the return throw. However, he immediately showed signs of discomfort, clutching his lower back and calling for medical attention.
Despite initially walking off the field unaided with the team physio, he returned after New Zealand lost their second wicket in the ninth over. He later contributed 24 runs off 41 balls, including four boundaries, before Pakistan fell short in their chase.
Following his injury, the PCB confirmed that Zaman was undergoing medical evaluation and would not travel with the team to Dubai for their next match. In its official statement, the board confirmed that the injury was serious enough to rule him out of the tournament.
“Fakhar Zaman’s injury is of serious nature. He will not be able to play the remainder of the tournament,” the PCB stated.
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