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Imam-ul-Haq has replaced injured Fakhar Zaman in Pakistan’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Fakhar suffered an oblique injury against New Zealand.
Pakistan’s Imam-Ul-Haq (PC: AFP)
The International Cricket Council (ICC)’s technical committee has approved Imam-ul-Haq as a replacement for the injured Fakhar Zaman in Pakistan’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Fakhar was ruled out of the tournament due to an oblique injury he suffered while fielding against New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday.
Imam last played an ODI for Pakistan in the 2023 World Cup against South Africa. After a poor tournament, he remained out of favor for almost two years before piling up runs in domestic cricket to get back in contention.
“The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 has approved Imam-ul-Haq as a replacement for Fakhar Zaman in the Pakistan squad. Twenty-nine-year-old Imam, who has played 72 ODIs, was named as a replacement after Fakhar was ruled out due to an oblique injury,” an ICC press release said.
Earlier, Fakhar had confirmed his ruling out and said he was looking forward to a ‘stronger’ comeback.
“Representing Pakistan on the biggest stage is an honour and dream of every cricketer in this country. I have been privileged enough to represent Pakistan multiple times with pride. Unfortunately, I’m 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. This is only just the beginning, the comeback will be stronger than the setback. Pakistan Zindabad,” Fakhar wrote in a post on X.
Fakhar’s injury will come as a massive blow for the Men in Green, who have already been dealing with promising opener Saim Ayub’s absence. Imam has decent overall numbers in ODIs with 3138 runs at an average of 48.27 in 72 matches but he’s coming in a team that’s in a dire state after losing the first match to New Zealand and needs to win the next two matches against India and Bangladesh.
