2025 ICC Champions Trophy: Pakistan finalizes replacement of Fakhar Zaman! Left-hander all set to join team

Pakistan National Cricket Team on Thursday (20th February) suffered a massive blow as opener Fakhar Zaman reportedly was ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The batter faced a knee injury during the game against New Zealand in Karachi. 

Fakhar Zaman got injured on the second ball of the match against New Zealand as he felt some discomfort in his knees. Although he came to bat, he didn't look fit enough, as his struggles were visible, and he couldn't play the way he would've wanted. 

The reports claimed that Fakhar Zaman also has been feeling discomfort in his chest, and the results of the scans didn't come good. It is learned that the batter won't be travelling to Dubai and also won't be featuring in any more games of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. 

With Fakhar Zaman being ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, this will leave a massive void for the Pakistan National Cricket Team. This means that they will be without an opener in the team, as they also didn't name an opener as a replacement for Saim Ayub. 

Imam-ul-Haq will be joining Pakistan National Cricket Team as a replacement of Fakhar Zaman in 2025 ICC Champions Trophy 

With Fakhar Zaman being ruled out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, it is learned, as per the reports in Geo News, that Imam-ul-Haq will be joining the team as a replacement. The left-hander will be added to the team ahead of the much anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in the tournament. 

Imam-ul-Haq was part of the Pakistan Shaheens squad that played the warmup game ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The opening batter looked in great form and played a magnificent innings, which surely would've caught the attention of selectors. 

Imam-ul-Haq last played for the Pakistan National Cricket Team in ODs during the ICC World Cup 2023. After that, he was dropped and was on the sidelines. The batter, however, kept grinding hard in the domestic cricket and has been scoring runs consistently. 

If he gets added to the team, it will fill the void to some extent for the Pakistan National Cricket Team. They will be having a reliable opener in the team and it might change their fortune. The Mohammad Rizwan-led side lost the first game and will be playing India next on 23rd February.

Also Read: Pakistan face a HUGE Blow! Fakhar Zaman ruled out of India clash in 2025 ICC Champions Trophy