Pakistan’s Champions Trophy campaign suffered a blow as opener Fakhar Zaman was ruled out due to injury, adding to the team’s challenges ahead of their crucial clash against India. Despite the setback, Zaman remains hopeful for a swift recovery and pledged his support to the team.
On Thursday, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment, stating, “It is an honor to represent Pakistan. I have done so many times and will continue to do so, InshaAllah.” He added, “Missing out on the Champions Trophy is unfortunate, but I trust things will improve with Allah’s will.”
Zaman sustained a back injury while fielding against New Zealand, leading to his replacement by left-handed batter Imam-ul-Haq. The ICC’s Event Technical Committee—comprising Wasim Khan, Usman Wahla, Sarah Edgar, and Shaun Pollock—approved the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request for the swap.
Despite being sidelined, Zaman assured fans of his unwavering support, saying, “I will be cheering for my team from home.” With his absence, Pakistan will need to adjust their batting approach, with Imam-ul-Haq expected to play a key role at the top of the order.
Pakistan’s Road to the Semi-Finals: A Must-Win Scenario
With only three group-stage matches in the tournament, Pakistan’s path to the semi-finals has become increasingly difficult. A loss against India could end their campaign prematurely.
To stay in contention, Pakistan must win both their remaining matches against India and Bangladesh while closely monitoring their net run rate. If multiple teams finish with two wins each, qualification may come down to a superior run rate.
The upcoming clash against India in Dubai is now a virtual knockout, making it a must-win game for Pakistan with no margin for error.