A genuine big-hitter, Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman is an important part of the team which will begin their Champions Trophy campaign on February 19 against New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi, looking forward to defending their title. Set to make his Pakistan comeback, opener Fakhar Zaman has revealed the reason behind his recent absence from the national set up.
Fakhar Zaman, who last played for Pakistan during the T20 World Cup last year, seemingly landed himself in trouble after criticizing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for dropping Babar Azam from the Test team last year. In October 2024, Babar was dropped from the last two Tests against England as Pakistan completed a turn around and won the series in his absence.
Pakistan have recalled opener Fakhar Zaman for their Champions Trophy title defence at home. Only three players from Pakistan’s 2017 title winning campaign have made it to the squad now including Fakhar Zaman who hammered a memorable century in the final against India. While injury and illness had sidelined him since June 2024, the opener Fakhar Zaman showcased good form in the Champions T20 Cup to earn his spot with Abdullah Shafique getting axed and Saim Ayub sidelined with an injury.
Pakistan have announced their 15-member squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19 in Karachi. In a major blow to the team, young opener Saim Ayub has missed out on the team after failing to recover in time from the ankle injury he sustained during the second Test against South Africa. Announcing the 15-man squad for the tournament that begins on February 19, national selector Asad Shafiq also confirmed that either Babar Azam or the recalled Saud Shakeel will open with Fakhar Zaman in the tournament.
Fakhar Zaman once had considers retirement from international cricket
According to the reports, the decision of the selectors to drop Fakhar Zaman from both the white-ball teams has not gone down well with the cricketer. Fakhar Zaman has also been asked by the PCB to undergo a fitness test in January next year.
The reports also claim that Fakhar Zaman is also considering retirement from all formats of the game after his omission. Fakhar Zaman is one of the most aggressive batters in the team and his retirement can be a big blow for Pakistan.
Fakhar Zaman became a star just after making his international debut in 2017. The left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman scored a match-winning hundred in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against India and led Pakistan to a historic title win over the arch-rivals.
The 34-year-old has played 3 Tests, 82 ODIs, and 92 T20Is against Pakistan so far. While he has been unable to make a mark in red-ball cricket, he has been a key part of Pakistan’s white-ball teams. Fakhar Zaman has scored 3492 runs at an average of 46.56 and a strike rate of 93.44 with 11 hundreds and 16 fifties in ODIs. He has scored 1848 runs at an average of 22.81 and a strike rate of 132.94 in T20Is.
The PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi later reasoned Fakhar’s omission as the lack of fitness. Naqvi also revealed that Fakhar’s earlier tweet in support of Babar Azam was also one of the reasons behind his omission. However injury to Saim Ayub and impressive performances at the top in ILT20 2025.
Pakistan’s left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman on Friday, has finally addressed the speculations regarding his exclusion from the national men’s team, sharing that he was suffering from an ailment. Fakhar Zaman , while talking to former cricketer Salman Butt in the latest episode of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Podcast, dismissed the notion that the opener was sidelined from the team due to his tweet in support of Babar Azam.
Pakistan Star Fakhar Zaman picked For Champions Trophy 2025 reveals reason behind his exclusion from national team
Fakhar Zaman, making a comeback to the side for the first time since the ODI World Cup in November 2023, made just 11 and 13 in his two trials with the bat, being caught both times. Fakhar Zaman is set to make his comeback in the Champions Trophy preceding tri-series at home against New Zealand and South Africa. Fakhar Zaman was named ‘Man of the Match’ in the Champions Trophy final in 2017 when Pakistan defeated India at the Oval to lift the title.
Pakistan squad for tri-series and Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Ali Agha, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Abrar Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah.