Fakhar Zaman out of Champions Trophy with injury

KARACHI: Pakistani opening batter Fakhar Zaman is out of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy after he suffered an injury in the tournament’s opener.

In Wednesday’s Champions Trophy opener between Pakistan and New Zealand, Fakhar suffered a back injury in the very first over of the match. On the second ball Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled, New Zealand’s Will Young nearly hit a boundary. However, Fakhar stopped the ball before it hit the rope, injuring his back in the process.

While the majority of the teams competing in the Champions Trophy have three openers, Pakistan only has one, Fakhar. Now, with his absence, fans will need to wait and see who will replace the opener. Imam-ul-Haq is one likely option according to sources. He last played in the Champions Trohy warm-up match between the Shaheens and South Africa, in which he scored 98 runs off 94 deliveries.

Pakistan’s next Champions Trophy group stage match will take place in Dubai on February 23, and will see the hosts take on long time rivals India, in what is the most anticipated game of the tournament. Fakhar will not be traveling with the team for the match.

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