Fakhar Zaman has dismissed retirement rumors, focusing instead on recovering from a recent injury sustained during Pakistan’s Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand. The 2017 Champions Trophy hero, who turns 35 in April, experienced discomfort while fielding and batted at No. 4 due to the injury, contributing to Pakistan’s defeat. He confirmed his intent to return to international cricket, stating he can start training in three weeks and hopes to play within a month. Despite challenges, including being left out of central contracts and criticism of team decisions, Fakhar is committed to playing all formats and remains focused on improving Pakistan’s performance.
He visibly struggled with the injury during a 41-ball innings of 24 runs, as Pakistan faced a heavy 60-run defeat. Fakhar appeared devastated in the dressing room following his dismissal, and considering the uncertainty surrounding his place in the team and the fact that he will turn 35 in April, the possibility that this might have been his final match for Pakistan was not overlooked.
However, speaking with PCB digital, Fakhar reassured fans that he is not going anywhere. “I’ve heard a lot about these [retirement rumors], and even my friends reached out to me about it, but there’s no truth to it,” Fakhar stated. “The ODI format is my favorite. Yes, with my thyroid condition, I may take longer to return. But I want to play T20s, ODIs, and even Tests again. Regarding my comeback, I spoke with the doctor, and I can resume playing cricket within the month.”
Fakhar hasn’t participated in international cricket since the 2024 T20 World Cup last June in the USA and West Indies, where Pakistan was knocked out in the group stages. His last ODI appearance was in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where Pakistan also failed to progress beyond the group stages.
Prior to this tournament, he was excluded from Pakistan’s central contracts and received a show-cause notice after tweeting in September about the decision to drop Babar Azam from the Test squad. Later, when chairman Mohsin Naqvi arranged a “connection camp” for senior players to express their opinions, Fakhar was one of the most vocal, specifically criticizing a senior official.
For now, that appears to be behind him, as Fakhar is committed to returning with Pakistan. “The doctor has told me I can start training again in three weeks. So, I believe I should be back playing cricket in a month’s time.”
Prior to the tournament, Pakistan had already lost Saim Ayub to injury, and the subsequent loss of Fakhar was a double blow that coach Aaqib Javed identified as a key reason for their disappointing performance. Fakhar has a career strike rate of nearly 94 in ODIs, and he was clear about the modern game’s demands.
“The most important factor is the match situation. If you’re chasing 150-200 runs, you approach it with a different mindset compared to chasing 350. Strike rate is essential, especially these days. You have to play aggressive cricket, as the game has evolved into fast-scoring. All teams come with that strategy. If you take risks, you can score runs, although, of course, it can lead to losing your wicket as well.”