Pakistan white-ball opening batter Fakhar Zaman is hopeful of making a comeback in the national side ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. He has not played international cricket for the Asian side since the T20 World Cup 2024. The 2009 winners crashed out of the tournament in the first round, losing to co-host USA and arch-rivals India. Since then, the left-hander played in the CPL 2024 for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.
In the last few months, Pakistan has won an ODI series in Australia and South Africa. However, the 34-year-old wasn’t part of the team. Saim Ayub was opening the batting in these two series but he seems uncertain to play in Champions Trophy due to ankle injury. Meanwhile, during an interaction with Desert Vipers, the Champions Trophy 2017 winner seems confident to make his comeback in the team.
“A 100%, I will play for Pakistan (again),” Fakhar told the Vipers Voices podcast. “Actually, many people do not know about that, but after the T20 World Cup I got sick and because of the medical condition I was not fit, so I was not a part of the team.
“But now I [have] recovered 100%, and you will see me in the next white-ball series which Pakistan play.”
Zaman will play for International League T20 team, Desert Vipers in the upcoming 2025 season, starting from January 11. The 2023 runners up are aiming for their first title.
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Fakhar Zaman rose to prominence in Champions Trophy 2017
Incidentally, the 82-ODI veteran made his international debut during the previous edition of the Champions Trophy eight years back. He replaced Ahmed Shehzad during the tournament. He scored 114 against India in the final that proved to be decisive. Meanwhile, during the podcast with Desert Vipers, Zaman claimed that he is ready to play in the Champions Trophy 2025.
“My plan has been around the Champions Trophy,” he said. “I did not play in the Australia tour or in the South Africa tour, so my whole plan was just to play in the Champions Trophy, to make myself available and to be fully fit for the tournament.
“That was in the back of my mind, and I am thankful, and I am lucky to be fit right now. I started from the Champions Trophy 2017 and that went really well for me and now I am very excited for the next edition also. I talked to the selectors, the head coach, and everyone wanted me to play in the Champions Trophy.”
