3 Players Who Could Replace Fakhar Zaman If He Is Ruled Out of the Champions Trophy 2025
Here are three players who could replace Fakhar Zaman in Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy.
Pakistan suffered a major setback in their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign as opener Fakhar Zaman picked up an injury during the first match against New Zealand on February 19. While trying to stop a boundary in the first over, he appeared to have hurt his back. Fakhar was in visible pain and signaled for a replacement before leaving the field. He was later seen walking towards the dressing room with the physio.
Pakistan will now be hoping for his quick recovery, especially with their next match against India on February 23. However, if Fakhar is ruled out of the tournament, here are three players who could replace him in the squad:
1. Abdullah Shafique
Abdullah Shafique is a talented right-handed batter who played a crucial role in Pakistan’s ODI series win in Australia. He scored 113 runs in three matches, including a half-century.
However, if we look at his recent form, he struggled in ODIs and was later dropped from the team. More importantly, he has found it difficult to handle quality fast bowling, making him a risky option against top teams.
Overall, Shafique has scored 612 runs in 21 ODIs at an average of 32 and a strike rate of 81. Though he has been out of favor due to poor performances, Pakistan might turn to him if they don’t find a better replacement.
2. Mohammad Haris
Another option for Pakistan is Mohammad Haris, a young and aggressive batter. Although he has limited experience, he has the potential to be a match-winner if given a chance.
Haris has played six ODIs for Pakistan but has only managed 30 runs, failing to make an impact. Despite this, he is known for his attacking batting style and could be a wildcard option if Pakistan needs someone to take on the bowlers.
3. Imam-ul-Haq
Imam-ul-Haq has been out of the ODI squad for a long time, but his experience makes him a strong candidate for a comeback. He has played 71 ODIs, scoring over 3000 runs at an impressive average of 48 and a strike rate of 82.
Imam is a reliable opener and has been one of Pakistan’s top performers in ODI cricket. If Fakhar is ruled out, Pakistan might consider bringing back Imam to provide stability at the top.
With Pakistan’s next match against India on February 23, they will have to make a quick decision on Fakhar’s replacement if he is unable to recover in time.
