Fakhar Zaman has dismissed retirement rumors, confirming he aims to return from injury within a month. The left-hander, who played a crucial role in Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy triumph, suffered an oblique muscle strain while fielding in the first over of Pakistan’s opening match against New Zealand. Though he briefly returned, he batted at No. 4 instead of opening and struggled during a 41-ball 24 in Pakistan’s 60-run defeat.
His injury, combined with his age—he turns 35 in April—sparked speculation that he might retire. However, Fakhar clarified to PCB Digital that he has no such plans. “I heard about the retirement rumors, but there’s nothing to them,” he said. “ODIs are my favorite format, and I want to continue playing T20s, ODIs, and even Tests.” He added that doctors expect him to be fit for a return in about a month.
Fakhar had not played international cricket since the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan exited in the group stage. He was also omitted from Pakistan’s central contracts and received a show-cause notice after criticizing Babar Azam’s Test exclusion. However, he now looks forward to rejoining the team.
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy campaign ended after a six-wicket loss to India. Fakhar’s absence, along with Saim Ayub’s injury, left their top order under scrutiny. The slow strike rates of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were criticized, highlighting the need for a more aggressive approach. Fakhar emphasized the importance of intent in modern cricket, stating, “Strike rate matters, and taking risks is essential in today’s fast-scoring game.”
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