Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan Faces Major Setback as Fakhar Zaman Ruled Out Due to Injury

Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign has taken a big hit, as explosive left-handed batter Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out due to a knee injury. The setback occurred during Pakistan’s opening match against New Zealand when Fakhar injured himself while chasing the ball at mid-off on just the second ball of the game. It looked like an old injury had resurfaced, raising significant concerns for the team’s opening combination.

🚨 Big Blow for Pakistan!

Fakhar Zaman is ruled out of the #ChampionsTrophy due to chest muscular pain—scans show no positive signs. He will not travel to Dubai.#FakharZaman #PAKCricket pic.twitter.com/sr0wk5DYN6

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) February 20, 2025

The timing couldn’t be worse for Pakistan, as they were already struggling with injuries. Their other opener, Saim Ayub, was ruled out before the tournament began. Now, Fakhar’s absence means Pakistan will be without their key top-order batter for one of the tournament’s biggest matches—against arch-rivals India.

Fans still remember Fakhar’s heroics in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final against India, where he smashed a stunning 114 runs, leading Pakistan to a massive 180-run victory. Pakistan will have to rethink their strategy against strong bowling attacks in the upcoming games without him.

Pakistan Struggles Without Fakhar in Opening Game

After Fakhar left the field in the first over, Kamran Ghulam came in as a substitute fielder. Meanwhile, New Zealand capitalised on Pakistan’s misfortune, with Will Young and Tom Latham scoring centuries to take their team to an imposing total of 320 runs.

With Fakhar unfit to open, Pakistan had to reshuffle their batting lineup. Saud Shakeel was promoted to open alongside Babar Azam, but the duo struggled to provide a solid start. Shakeel managed just six runs before getting dismissed, and Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, also looked entirely out of touch.

Pakistan’s slow start saw them scoring just 22 runs in the first powerplay, putting them on the back foot early in the chase. Fakhar Zaman did come in to bat later, but his injury prevented him from playing his natural attacking game. Babar Azam put up a hard-fought 64 off 90 deliveries, while Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah showed some resistance in the middle order. However, it wasn’t enough, as Pakistan ultimately fell short by 60 runs.

What’s Next for Pakistan?

With Fakhar Zaman ruled out and no specialist opener left in the squad, Pakistan’s team management faces a significant challenge in reshuffling the batting order for the upcoming games. The match against India in Dubai, one of the most anticipated fixtures in world cricket, will be an actual test of Pakistan’s adaptability. Dubai’s pitches, which offer assistance to pacers and batters, generally suit Indian players, making Pakistan’s task even more challenging.

For those interested in keeping up with the latest developments in the tournament and exploring cricket betting apps real money, this unexpected twist in Pakistan’s campaign could impact odds and predictions for upcoming matches. With injuries affecting multiple teams, including Australia and New Zealand, the race for the semi-finals is becoming more unpredictable than ever.

As Pakistan regroups and finds a new opening combination, all eyes will be on how they respond to this early setback in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

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