Pakistan’s opening batter Fakhar Zaman is expected to miss the remainder of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after suffering an injury during the tournament opener against New Zealand. The injury occurred while Zaman was fielding in the first over, where he fell awkwardly and was immediately taken off the field for medical evaluation. Despite briefly returning to play, he had to leave again, raising concerns about the seriousness of the injury.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that Zaman will not travel with the team to Dubai for their next crucial match against India on February 23. In a brief statement, the PCB said, “Fakhar Zaman is not traveling with the side to Dubai. The ICC will make further announcements in due course.” However, multiple media reports suggest that Zaman has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.
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As per sources, Imam-ul-Haq is the likely candidate to replace Zaman for the rest of the tournament. Imam’s recent form, including a notable 98-run performance during a warm-up game against South Africa, has positioned him as a strong replacement for the injured opener.
The opening match against New Zealand saw Pakistan struggle in all departments, eventually falling short by 60 runs. Chasing a 321-run target, Pakistan’s top order crumbled early on, with Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam providing some resistance but ultimately unable to steer the team to victory.
