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Fakhar Zaman was spotted crying inconsolably after after being dismissed post his injury in Pakistan’s loss to New Zealand in Champions Trophy.
Shaheen Afridi consoles crying Fakhar Zaman (Instagram/@ICC – Screeengrab)
Pakistan did not have an ideal start to their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign after losing the tournament opener to New Zealand and it went from bad to worse as Fakhar Zaman suffered an injury and has been subsequently rulled out.
The stalwart suffered a muscle strain while fielding in the New Zealand innings and remained away from the field for most part of the innings.
The 34-year-old suffered the injury while chasing a ball to the boundary in the first over of the contest.
He wasn’t able to open the batting in the second innings, forcing Saud Shakeel to take stance as a stop-gap opener. Zaman batted at No.4, scored 24 off 41, but seemed visibly struggling during his knock.
A video has gone viral on social media which shows Fakhar Zaman’s heartbreaking reaction after being dismissed in Pakistan’s chase against New Zealand, which the hosts lost by 60 runs.
Fakhar, who has had a long history of knee problems, had made a comeback to the Pakistan team for the Champions Trophy after last playing in the 2023 World Cup in India.
“Unfortunately I am 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,” Zaman, the 34-year-old, who has played 86 ODIs and averages a little over 46, posted on ‘X’.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) included Imam-ul-Haq in the squad that left for Dubai to take on India, after the change after getting the approval from the International Cricket Council’s Event Technical Committee.
Pakistan are in a do-or-die situation following their loss in the opening match in Karachi.
The team practised for three hours at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium with all the batter, barring skipper Mohammad Rizwan, undergoing an extended 20-minute batting session.
Batting mainstay Babar Azam faced all the bowlers for a minimum of two overs each. The former skipper had scored a sedate 64 off 90 deliveries against New Zealand.
Pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, who will be expected to play a crucial role in the match against the arch-rivals, too bowled over seven overs each.
Pakistan’s interim coach Aaqib Javed and captain Rizwan had an extended meeting with the players, with the former doing most of the talking.
(With inputs from Agencies)
- Location :
Karachi, Pakistan
