In a significant setback for Pakistan's hopes of advancing in the Champions Trophy, Mohammad Rizwan and his team will be without their key player, Fakhar Zaman, for the remainder of the tournament. Fakhar sustained a knee injury while fielding during the opening match against New Zealand on Thursday. Although he returned to the field, he appeared to be in considerable discomfort during his batting innings. He managed to score only 24 runs off 41 balls, visibly struggling with pain throughout his time at the crease, and received medical attention before being dismissed by Michael Bracewell.

During the post-match presentation, Rizwan expressed uncertainty regarding the severity of Fakhar's injury, merely stating that Fakhar was experiencing pain. Earlier that day, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had released a statement indicating that the player was being assessed for a muscle sprain. However, it has now become evident that the seriousness of Fakhar's condition raises doubts not only about his participation in the upcoming match against Bangladesh but also about his ability to continue in the tournament.

"Representing Pakistan on the biggest stage is an honour and 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 just the beginning; the comeback will be stronger than the setback. Pakistan Zindabad," Fakhar tweeted.

Previously, it was anticipated that Fakhar might miss the entire tournament. "Fakhar won't play the match against India, and hence, he would not be travelling to Dubai. As of now, it looks difficult that he would get fit for the last group stage match against Bangladesh as well. He is all but out of the tournament," a source familiar with the situation confirmed to Hindustan Times.

PCB announces replacement

The Pakistan Cricket Board has officially announced Imam-ul-Haq as the replacement for the injured Fakhar Zaman. According to a statement from the ICC, "The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 has approved Imam-ul-Haq as a replacement for Fakhar Zaman in the Pakistan squad." Imam, who is 29 years old and has participated in 72 One Day Internationals, was selected following Fakhar's withdrawal due to an oblique injury.

Fakhar's injury music to India's ears

Fakhar's injury is likely to be welcomed by the Indian team, as he was instrumental in Pakistan's victory over India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, scoring 114 runs off 106 balls, which included 12 fours and three sixes. His performance helped Pakistan achieve a formidable total of 338/4, a score that India could not match, falling short by 180 runs.

This injury presents a significant challenge for Pakistan, who are already missing Saim Ayub from the tournament. There were also concerns regarding Haris Rauf's fitness; however, he has been declared fit for the opening match against New Zealand.

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