With Fakhar Zaman likely to miss the rest of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan management has already started considering his replacement.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that Zaman will not be traveling with the team to Dubai, where Pakistan is scheduled to depart today.
One of the leading candidates for the spot is Imam-ul-Haq, who has been in good form. Imam, who recently played in a warm-up match against Bangladesh in Dubai, scored an impressive 98 runs in that game.
A formal announcement regarding Fakhar Zaman’s replacement is expected from the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) technical committee soon.
Pakistan is set to face arch-rivals India in Dubai on Sunday, February 23.
Fakhar Zaman was forced to leave the field just two deliveries into the match against New Zealand on Wednesday, after suffering a muscular injury while fielding.
He had chased a ball toward the boundary, stopped it, and then threw it to Babar Azam, but immediately appeared to feel discomfort. Zaman walked off the field with the physio, although he did so unaided, and later returned to the field.
Zaman came to bat in Mohammad Rizwan’s position, as he could not open the innings due to not meeting the required time spent on the field during New Zealand’s innings.
While batting, he continued to feel discomfort and was checked again by the physio. He struggled to run between the wickets and was eventually dismissed for 24 off 42 deliveries by Bracewell.