3 Potential Replacements For Injured Fakhar Zaman In Pakistan's Champions Trophy Squad

Fakhar Zaman struggled in Champions Trophy opener (Source:@_FaridKhan/X.com)

The Champions Trophy 2025 is back after a gap of eight years and so is the ICC event in Pakistan after 29 long years. The home team is expected to do well as they are the defending champions as well, and Fakhar Zaman is a crucial asset with his ability to score positively at the top of the order.

The left-handed batter though got injured in the very first over of Champions Trophy while trying to stop the ball. He did comeback on the field but the impact of knee injury was quite evident in his game, and the batter struggled to get going, eventually departing for 24 from 41 balls.

He was struggling to move his body swiftly and if the injury does turn out to be serious and get ruled out of the tournament, here are the three potential replacements who could make into the Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad.

3. Haseebullah Khan

The 21-year-old left-handed batter has made rapid strides in Pakistan cricket with his consistency. He has been brilliant at the domestic level in all three formats and has also made played one ODI game along with three T20Is for Pakistan, and can fit in as a wicketkeeper if something happens to Rizwan.

Haseebullah Khan has a List A average of 51.13 which includes nine hundreds and 10 fifties in 51 games and it shows the conversion rate and his huger for runs. Also, he is a man in form and has scored two consecutive fifties in his last two first-class games. He also has a fifty and a century in his last three List A matches, and it makes him a good candidate to replace Fakhar Zaman if Pakistan selectors want to re-energise the team with a new talent.

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2. Abdullah Shafique

The right-handed batter was in the scheme of things till the recent tour of South Africa, but three consecutive ducks on that tour pushed him out of Champions Trophy squad. However, if Fakhar Zaman gets ruled out, Pakistan selectors might go back to him as he did decently on the tour of Zimbabwe and Australia, hitting two fifties.

Overall, he has an average of 32.21 in 21 ODIs and has one century and six fifties to his name. The right-handed batter also has found success at the Test level and has five centuries. His familiarity with the current team management also amplifies his chances, and he could well make his comeback if Fakhar Zaman gets ruled out.

1. Imam-ul-Haq

The number one option with proven credentials in the ODI format is Imam-ul-Haq. He last played an ODI for Pakistan in 2023 World Cup, but in his 71 ODI innings, he has scored his runs at an average of 48.27 which includes nine centuries and 20 fifties. Imam also displayed his form in recent encounter against South Africa where he scored 98 while playing for Pakistan Shaheens.

Also, Imam's stats on Pakistan soil in ODIs is even better than his overall record as he has two centuries and eight fifties in 17 innings at an average of 57.06. Thus with commendable past record and recent runs against a team like South Africa make Imam-ul-Haq favourite to replace Fakhar Zaman if he gets ruled out.

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