Pakistan suffered a major blow ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as star opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament due to an oblique injury. The left-handed batter sustained the injury during Pakistan’s opening match against New Zealand on February 19, 2025.
Zaman, known for his explosive batting, hurt himself while attempting to stop a boundary in the first over of the game. Although he later returned to bat at number four, he was visibly struggling and managed to score only 24 runs. Following medical assessments, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that he would not be able to recover in time for the rest of the tournament.
In response to Zaman’s absence, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved Imam-ul-Haq as his replacement. The 29-year-old opener has been in good form and brings valuable experience to the squad, having scored 3,138 runs in 72 ODIs at an average of 48.27. Imam’s inclusion is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s top order ahead of their crucial match against arch-rivals India on February 23 in Dubai.
Expressing his disappointment, Zaman took to social media to share his thoughts:
“Representing Pakistan on the biggest stage is an honor 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 the beginning; the comeback will be stronger than the setback.”
Zaman’s absence is a significant loss for Pakistan, especially considering his historic performance in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where his century against India played a key role in Pakistan’s triumph. As the team moves forward, they will need to adapt quickly to the change and strategize effectively to keep their tournament hopes alive.
