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Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign has suffered a major setback as Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. The left-handed opener, who played a crucial role in Pakistan’s historic 2017 Champions Trophy final win against India, will miss the rest of the competition, including the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash on February 23.
With Zaman unavailable, Pakistan now faces a significant selection dilemma. Will they bring in a replacement opener or adjust their batting order? Here’s what we know so far about his injury, potential replacements, and ICC’s rules for mid-tournament player replacements.
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Fakhar Zaman Ruled Out of CT 2025
Reports confirm that Fakhar Zaman will not be traveling to Dubai, ruling him out of the much-awaited Pakistan vs India showdown on Sunday, February 23.
The injury occurred during Pakistan’s tournament opener against New Zealand on February 20 in Karachi. While fielding, Zaman experienced chest muscular pain, which prevented him from continuing. Although he later came out to bat at No. 4 during Pakistan’s 321-run chase, it was evident that he was in discomfort and struggling to perform at his best.
This injury comes as a massive blow for Pakistan, given Zaman’s big-match experience and proven ability in ICC tournaments. His 114-run knock in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against India remains one of the most memorable innings in Pakistan’s cricket history.
Who Will Replace Fakhar Zaman?
With Fakhar Zaman out, Pakistan must now decide on his replacement. The most likely candidate is Imam-ul-Haq, a left-handed opener who has played ODIs for Pakistan since 2017.
Imam, who last featured in an ODI for Pakistan in 2023, has been a consistent performer in the top order. His ability to anchor the innings and rotate the strike makes him a suitable replacement. However, he has not played much competitive cricket in recent months, which could be a concern for the team management.
Another potential option is Saim Ayub, a young and aggressive batter known for his attacking style. However, given Pakistan’s preference for experienced players in ICC tournaments, Imam-ul-Haq appears to be the frontrunner to replace Fakhar Zaman in the playing XI.
ICC Rules for Player Replacements Explained
The ICC has specific regulations for replacing injured players in tournaments like the Champions Trophy.
Key ICC Replacement Rules:
- Teams can request a replacement for an injured player if the injury prevents further participation in the tournament.
- The ICC must approve the replacement, and the new player must come from the reserve list submitted before the tournament.
- Once a player is replaced, he cannot rejoin the squad later in the tournament, even if he recovers from injury.
This means Pakistan cannot bring in an entirely new player from outside their reserve list. The selectors must choose from the pre-approved backup players, which likely includes Imam-ul-Haq or Saim Ayub.
What This Means for Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Campaign
Losing Fakhar Zaman is a huge setback for Pakistan, given his experience in ICC events and ability to score quickly at the top of the order. His absence puts additional pressure on Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saud Shakeel to deliver consistently.
With a must-win match against India on February 23, Pakistan will need to quickly adjust their strategy and find stability in the top order. Imam-ul-Haq’s inclusion could provide a steady opening partnership, but his form remains a question mark.
Pakistan’s management now faces a crucial decision—whether to go with experience (Imam-ul-Haq) or take a gamble on youth (Saim Ayub). Either way, the loss of Fakhar Zaman has left a big void in the squad, and the team will need to step up to keep their Champions Trophy hopes alive.
