On Thursday, February 20, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tournament due to an oblique injury.
Zaman sustained the injury in the opening match while fielding. He hurt himself attempting to chase Will Young’s cover drive, injuring himself while diving near the boundary rope. Although he returned to the field during Pakistan’s bowling innings, he was unable to open the batting due to the time he spent off the field.
Struggling at the crease, the left-hander managed just 24 runs off 41 balls, including a 47-run partnership with Babar Azam for the third wicket.
In light of the injury, Pakistan has announced a replacement for the injured opener.
Imam-ul-Haq has been named as a replacement for Fakhar Zaman in Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The ICC has approved Pakistan’s request to replace Fakhar Zaman, confirming that Imam-ul-Haq will take his place in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad.
A statement from the ICC read, “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. Imam, 29, has played 72 ODIs and is being brought in after Fakhar was ruled out due to an oblique injury.”
The committee members include Wasim Khan (ICC General Manager – Cricket), Sarah Edgar (ICC Senior Manager – Events), Usman Wahla (PCB Director – International Cricket Operations), and Shaun Pollock (Independent Representative).
Imam-ul-Haq, who has represented Pakistan in several ICC events, has scored 3,138 runs in 72 ODIs, averaging 48, with nine centuries and 20 half-centuries. His most recent ODI appearance was against South Africa in Chennai during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.