Pakistan’s former international star Mohammad Amir has provided an update on the condition of the injury-stricken Fakhar Zaman after the batter was ruled out of the ongoing Champions Trophy.
Speaking on a private TV channel, Mohammad Amir, who developed a close bond with Fakhar Zaman during their time together in the ILT20 for Desert Vipers, shared details of his conversation with the injured batter.
Amir initially inquired whether Fakhar was dealing with a knee or back issue, but the left-hander confirmed that his injury was a side strain—an ailment that typically takes up to six weeks to heal, followed by a rehabilitation phase. Amir also revealed that Fakhar has been experiencing mild coughing, which worsens his discomfort and affects his breathing, likely exacerbating the batter’s condition.
Fakhar sustained the injury in the very first over of New Zealand’s innings while fielding, forcing him to leave for a medical assessment. Although he attempted to return later, discomfort forced him off once again. Despite the immense pain, Fakhar showed resilience by coming out to bat in Pakistan’s chase of 321. However, he failed to make an impact, managing just 24 runs before being dismissed, further underlining the difficulties he faced.
There is hope that if his recovery progresses well, Fakhar could make a return in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025.
With Fakhar ruled out, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) moved quickly to name Imam-ul-Haq as his replacement. Imam, who recently played for Pakistan Shaheens in a warm-up match against South Africa, was officially added to the squad on February 20 after ICC approval.
Without their maverick opener, Pakistan’s batting will have to answer some tough questions against India, especially after suffering a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in their opening match. A loss could mean an early end for Mohammad Rizwan’s men in the tournament. All eyes will be on the fixture in Dubai, with fans hoping that Pakistan can somehow replace Fakhar.