In the wake of Fakhar Zaman being ruled out from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, reports suggest that Pakistan’s left-handed batter Imam-ul-Haq is set to join the squad as his replacement.
The news was first reported by journalist Sohail Imran, who revealed that Imam, despite being left out of the original squad, is now being called upon to fill the void left by Fakhar’s absence.
Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan’s star opening batter, was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a knee injury during the opening match against New Zealand in Karachi. The injury occurred in the first over of the game when Fakhar dived to stop a boundary. Although he returned to the field and later batted during Pakistan’s chase, his condition worsened, and medical assessments confirmed that he would not be able to continue in the tournament.
Fakhar’s absence is a significant blow to Pakistan’s campaign, as he has been a key figure in their batting lineup, particularly in ICC tournaments. Known for his aggressive approach at the top of the order, Fakhar’s ability to dominate bowlers in the powerplay will be sorely missed.
Imam-ul-Haq, who was left out of Pakistan’s original Champions Trophy squad, is now expected to step in as Fakhar’s replacement and travel with the team to Dubai for the upcoming clash with India. The 28-year-old opener has been a consistent performer for Pakistan in ODIs, with a solid record that includes 9 centuries and 19 half-centuries in 62 matches.
