New Zealand opener Will Young’s drive prompted fielding efforts from Fakhar Zaman, who injured his lower back while attempting to cut off the ball. Although he left the field for assessment, Fakhar returned after two hours but struggled during his innings. Unsteady and in pain, he managed just 24 runs off 41 balls before being bowled while attempting a sweep shot. Fakhar replaced Saim Ayub, who was injured previously, whereas Pakistan welcomed Haris Rauf back from a side strain. The match marked a significant return of ICC tournament cricket to Pakistan, drawing large crowds and featuring notable ceremonies.
The New Zealand opener, Will Young, struck a shot through the covers off Shaheen Afridi, successfully beating the infield as Zaman made a sprint to intercept. He managed to cut it off but awkwardly palmed the ball to Babar Azam, who tossed it back to the keeper. However, Zaman immediately displayed signs of discomfort in his lower back or side. He signaled for a replacement and departed the field with the physio, though he walked back to the dressing room unaided.
The PCB released a statement shortly after, noting, “Fakhar Zaman is being assessed and examined for a muscular sprain, and further updates will be provided in due course.”
After spending just over two hours off the field, Fakhar returned; however, his absence delayed his opportunity to open Pakistan’s chase of 321. Saud Shakeel took the opening spot alongside Babar Azam, and Fakhar came to bat only after Mohammed Rizwan was dismissed in the tenth over. He found himself with no batting time due to the fielding restrictions, a moment when his power-hitting skills could have benefitted Pakistan greatly.
From the beginning, it was clear that he wouldn’t be able to contribute effectively. He appeared unsteady and struggled significantly with running between the wickets. On several occasions, he fell to his knees between overs, requiring the team doctor and physio to intervene with painkillers. Though he attempted to play the aggressive shots that the situation demanded, his performance was quite laborious. He scored 24 runs off 41 balls before trying to sweep Michael Bracewell—a shot he had been employing throughout the innings—only to miss entirely and get bowled out.
Pakistan had already faced a blow with Saim Ayub’s injury under similar circumstances, which eventually ruled him out of the Champions Trophy. During a Test against South Africa, he had chased a ball to the boundary, resulting in a twisted ankle that led to a fracture, sidelining him until at least mid-March. Fakhar, who was not initially in Pakistan’s ODI plans, stepped in as Ayub’s substitute and made a strong comeback with scores of 84 off 69 and 41 off 28 in his first two matches.
This game marked the return of ICC tournament cricket to Pakistan since 1996, drawing large crowds outside the National Stadium in Karachi hours before the start. The opening ceremony was graced by Pakistan’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, and featured an air force fly-past after the toss, which Pakistan won, electing to have New Zealand bat first.