Pakistan suffered a setback ahead of their Champions Trophy clash against India as opener Fakhar Zaman was ruled out due to a recurring knee injury. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed Imam-ul-Haq as his replacement after approval from the ICC’s Event Technical Committee. The squad departed for Dubai on Thursday, with the high-stakes match against India set for Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Zaman sustained the injury during Pakistan’s opening match against New Zealand on February 19, struggling while fielding and later batting at No.4 in a 60-run defeat. Despite scoring 24 off 41 balls, he appeared to be in discomfort.
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The 34-year-old, who averages over 46 in ODIs, expressed his disappointment on social media, stating, “Unfortunately, I am out of the Champions Trophy, but Allah is the best planner. I’ll be supporting the team from home.”
Imam, 29, with 72 ODIs to his name, steps in to bolster Pakistan’s batting lineup. Zaman’s exit is a blow, as he had returned to the squad for the tournament after last featuring in the 2023 World Cup.