Islamabad: Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has dismissed rumors suggesting he is contemplating retirement following an injury sustained during the Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand, which has sidelined him for the remainder of the tournament.
Fakhar had recently returned to international play during the ODI tri-nation series prior to the Champions Trophy, where he displayed glimpses of his explosive batting. Unfortunately, an injury during the first match against New Zealand cut his participation short.
In the wake of his injury, social media was rife with speculation about the experienced opener's potential retirement from international cricket. The 34-year-old, currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), refuted these claims and expressed his determination to rejoin the Pakistan team shortly.
"There is no truth to the retirement rumors. I will be fully fit and back with the team soon," Fakhar stated, as reported by Geo News.
The incident occurred when New Zealand opener Will Young played a shot off Shaheen Afridi, and Fakhar attempted to intercept the ball, managing to deflect it back to Babar Azam. However, he immediately showed signs of discomfort, clutching his lower back and signaling for a substitute. The team physio assisted him off the field, but he returned after New Zealand lost their second wicket in the ninth over.
Fakhar batted at number four but struggled to find his rhythm while attempting singles and doubles. His innings ended when Michael Bracewell bowled him out for a modest 24 runs off 41 balls, a significant setback for Pakistan as they chased a challenging target of 321 runs. Despite a late surge from Khushdil Shah, who scored 69 off 49 balls, Pakistan ultimately fell short, losing by 60 runs.
On Sunday, Pakistan felt the absence of Fakhar's aggressive play against their long-time rival India in Dubai. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the Pakistani batsmen adopted a cautious strategy, managing to score only 241 runs. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli secured his 51st ODI century, leading India to a comfortable 6-wicket victory over Pakistan.
