Fakhar Zaman Archives

Fakhar Zaman doubtful for ODI series against Bangladesh

LAHORE: Pakistan’s preparations for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh have suffered an early setback, with veteran opener Fakhar Zaman likely to miss the three-match assignment due to a hamstring injury.

According to reports, the left-handed batter is currently undergoing rehabilitation after picking up the injury, casting serious doubt over his availability for the tour.

While no official confirmation has been issued yet, indications suggest that the 35-year-old may not recover in time for the series.

Pakistan are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on March 9, with all three ODIs set to be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on March 11, 13 and 15.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Fakhar Zaman had a restricted outing at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, featuring in just two matches. He missed Pakistan’s group-stage fixtures against the Netherlands, USA, India and Namibia before returning for the Super Eights.

Despite limited opportunities, the experienced opener made his presence felt. He struck a brisk 25 against England and followed it up with a scintillating 84 off 42 deliveries against Sri Lanka, smashing nine fours and four sixes in a commanding knock.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh tour itself remains under observation amid ongoing regional tensions. Sources suggest the series will proceed only if the prevailing situation does not escalate into travel or security concerns.

Schedule of Pakistan-Bangladesh series

First ODI – March 11
Second ODI – March 13
Third ODI – March 15
First Test – May 8 to 12
Second Test – May 16 to 20

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed set to be appointed as Pakistan Test head coach: sources

Fakhar Zaman shatters Mohammad Rizwan’s T20 record

KANDY: Opening batter Fakhar Zaman on Saturday broke Mohammad Rizwan’s record for the most sixes by a Pakistan batter during the Super Eight clash against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Fakhar surpassed Mohammad Rizwan’s previous record of 95 sixes with a towering hit off spinner Maheesh Theekshana in the third over of Pakistan’s innings.

The clean strike not only shifted early momentum but also etched Fakhar’s name at the top of Pakistan’s six-hitting charts in T20 internationals.

Promoted to open the batting, Fakhar laid a monumental 176-run foundation with Sahibzada Farhan.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Both batters kept Sri Lankan bowlers at bay, powering Pakistan in a dominant position.

Fakhar Zaman was eventually dismissed after scoring 84 from 42 balls with the aid of four sixes and nine fours.

At the time of filing this story, Pakistan were 179-2 in 16.4 overs.

Most sixes for Pakistan in T20Is

Fakhar Zaman — Matches: 120 | Sixes: 99

Mohammad Rizwan — Matches: 106 | Sixes: 95

Babar Azam — Matches: 145 | Sixes: 80

Mohammad Hafeez — Matches: 119 | Sixes: 76

Shahid Afridi — Matches: 98 | Sixes: 73

READ: Farhan breaks Kohli’s long-standing T20 World Cup record

‘Babar, Fakhar can be dropped,’ Agha insists on merit-based selection

COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, on Friday, emphasised that team selection will be determined strictly by merit, with no senior player, including Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, guaranteed a spot in the Playing XI.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Pakistan’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 against the Netherlands, Agha emphasised that the team’s priority is to field the combination best suited to winning.

“We have arrived as a 15-member squad, and we will try to play the combination that is best for the team. Even if a senior player, whether Fakhar or Babar, does not fit into the combination, we will not play them,” he said.

“Fakhar and Babar have given great performances for Pakistan for years. I fully support them, but we will make the Playing XI only based on what is good for the team.”

Agha also expressed confidence in the team’s preparation and mindset, insisting there is no pressure ahead of the opening games.

“Our preparation has been very good. We will try to win every match and believe we can lift the World Cup,” he added.

The captain also voiced frustration over off-field topics dominating press conferences, calling for discussions to remain focused on cricket.

“Lately, there have been too many questions that are not about cricket. We are here as sportsmen and want to talk only about the game. We try to keep our focus on cricket and not let outside factors affect us,” he said.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Salman Ali Agha acknowledged that the weather could be a factor in Sri Lanka, but insisted it was beyond the team’s control.

“You cannot fight the weather or rain; it is not in our control. What is in our control is our performance, and we will try to deliver in all matches. Our focus is on winning our games,” he said.

He also backed spinner Usman Tariq, whose bowling action has come under scrutiny, calling him an X-factor for Pakistan.

“I don’t understand why there is so much talk about his action. His action has already been cleared twice. Usman Tariq is an X-factor for us, and we will use him whenever we feel we need him,” Agha said.

The captain confirmed he will continue to bat at number three.

“I am performing well at number three, so I will continue to bat there. There is no need to change it,” he said.

On the strategy against the Netherlands, the Pakistan captain highlighted the importance of executing plans against teams Pakistan does not face regularly.

“We do not play against teams like the Netherlands very often, so we must remain careful. We have played good cricket over the past six months, and now it is about executing our plans,” he concluded.

READ: Colombo weather update ahead of Pakistan vs Netherlands

Fakhar Zaman penalized for ICC Code of Conduct breach

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday fined Pakistan ace batter Fakhar Zaman 10 per cent of the match fee for the Code of Conduct breach during the Tri-Series final against Sri Lanka.

Zaman violated Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Support Personnel, which relates to showing dissent at an umpire’s decision.

The left-handed batter has been handed one demerit point, which is his first offence in a 24-month period.

“Zaman was found to have breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match,” the ICC wrote in his press release.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Last month, Pakistan outplayed Sri Lanka in the final by six wickets. The incident occurred in the 19th over of Pakistan’s innings, when Fakar, who made three runs, was seen arguing with the on-field umpires after his dismissal.

The sanction was proposed by Reon King of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees.

On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Asif Yaqoob, along with third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi, levied the charge.

The 35-year-old admitted the offence and accepted the sanction, hence eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

For the unversed, Pakistan emerged victorious in the final after a thrilling performance with the bat and ball.

Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Afridi starred with the ball, picking up three wickets each, which bundled out Sri Lanka for a mere 114-run total in 19.1 overs.

In reply, Pakistan chased down the target in 18.4 overs, losing four wickets in the process.

Babar Azam remained the top-scorer with 37* from 34 balls laced with two fours and a six. Saim Ayub was the other notable contributor with 36 from 33 balls, striking six boundaries.

READ: Joe Root surpasses Asad Shafiq’s Test record against Australia

Desert Vipers pick Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah for mega price in ILT20

Pakistan duo Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah have been picked up for a whopping price in the inaugural auction of the International League T20 (ILT20).

The ILT20’s fourth edition is scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah will host a total of 34 matches. The six-team tournament will run from December 2 until January 4.

During the first-ever auction of the tournament, the Desert Vipers roped in Fakhar Zaman and Naseem Shah at their base price of $80,000, approximately PKR 23 million.

Both players were picked without competition, as most franchises in the ILT20 are owned by Indian investors.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Desert Vipers (@thedesertvipers)

Fakhar was the first overseas player to be picked up in the auction. The 35-year-old will be playing for the second time with Desert Vipers in the tournament, whereas Naseem Shah will be featuring for the first time in the league.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Among other players, UAE fast bowler Junaid Siddique attracted a massive $170,000 from Sharjah Warriors. Afghanistan’s right-arm fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq was sold to MI Emirates for $100,000.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s mystery spinner, Usman Tariq, has been selected as a wildcard by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Desert Vipers (@thedesertvipers)

However, some prominent names remained unpicked at the auction. These include former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir, England’s James Anderson, Jason Roy, and India’s Ravichandran Ashwin. Moreover, Shakib Al Hasan also remained unsold in the auction.

Overall, nearly 300 players from over 20 countries are registered for the auction, including star international players, promising emerging talent, and regional players from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Pakistani Players in ILT20 2025 auction

Fakhar Zaman – $80,000

Saim Ayub – $80,000

Faheem Ashraf – $80,000

Imad Wasim – $80,000

Abdul Samad – $80,000

Naseem Shah – $80,000

Mohammad Nawaz – $80,000

Mohammad Haris – $40,000

Hassan Nawaz – $40,000

Mohammad Wasim – $40,000

Mohammad Hasnain – $40,000

Usama Mir – $40,000

Zaman Khan – $40,000

Hussain Talat – $10,000

Salman Irshad – $10,000

Sufiyan Muqeem – $10,000

READ: Marsh’s sublime knock powers Australia to victory in T20I opener

Fakhar Zaman reveals plan to tackle Jasprit Bumrah in Asia Cup 2025 clash

DUBAI: Pakistan opening batter Fakhar Zaman opened up on his battle with India ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 clash.

Pakistan will square off against arch-rivals India for the first time since the escalation between both nations in May 2025.

Speaking ahead of the match, Fakhar praised Bumrah as an outstanding bowler, emphasizing conditions and an attacking mindset.

“He is definitely a world-class bowler, but in cricket, the situation matters—how the pitch is playing matters.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

So if the wicket is good and the conditions are in your favor, then no matter which bowler comes at you, you attack him. That will be our plan too,” Fakhar said in a video released by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) on their social media handles.

“No matter how big a bowler someone is, or how many skills they have, if you attack them, they will definitely go on the back foot. Our plan will remain the same, and we will play according to the situation,” he stated.

For the unversed, Fakhar Zaman scored his match-winning century against India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. Notably, it was Jasprit Bumrah’s no-ball that gave the left-hander a reprieve when he was batting on three runs.

Later on, Zaman went on to score a 114 off 106 balls, laced with three sixes and 12 fours.

Pakistan squad: Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.

READ: Ravichandran Ashwin names Pakistan’s potential game-changer against India

Fakhar Zaman hails Saim Ayub as ‘updated version’ of Babar Azam

DUBAI: Pakistan top-order batter Fakhar Zaman has heaped high praise on Saim Ayub, calling him an updated version of Babar Azam.

Saim has represented Pakistan in 8 Tests, 12 ODIs, and 41 T20Is. The southpaw has made headlines with his elegant strokeplay. His best in ODIs came against South Africa in 2024, where he scored two centuries in a 3-0 whitewash for Pakistan.

Overall, in 41 T20Is, Saim Ayub has accumulated 816 runs at an average of 22.05 and a strike rate of 136.45 with the help of four half-centuries.

Now, Fakhar Zaman has praised Saim Ayub and stated that about the batter’s skill during a video appearance on the social media handle of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“Someone asked me in Lahore and I told him that he is Babar Azam’s updated version,” Fakhar said.

“He is a very different player and I think he has not yet shown 80 per cent of himself to the world,” he added.

Alongside Fakhar, Pakistan’s white-ball head coach also lauded Saim Ayub as a linchpin for the team.

“Look, Saim is a key player for us and we know that if Saim scores runs, we generally win,” Hesson stated.

“It’s not so much contributions, it’s a matter of if it’s your day, you wi,n and Saim is certainly one of those players,” he concluded.

READ: India vs Pakistan: New Faces, Same Old Fire in Asia Cup 2025

Former captain picks key players for Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 clash against India

Former captain Salman Butt has named Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Afridi as key players for Pakistan against India during the high-intensity clash in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025.

After taking on Oman in their opening match, Pakistan will face India in the continental tournament on September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS).

During a podcast appearance on a sports platform, Butt named India as the favorite.

“Pakistan can win, but they don’t start as favourites. That’s clear. On paper, you’re not the favourites. So maybe it’s 70–30, or 65–35, those are the percentages as I see them,” he said.

He revealed key players for Pakistan who could change the course of the match with their performances.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“Fakhar Zaman is the one. If Shaheen [Afridi] takes three wickets up front — he has done that before — then India’s whole batting lineup gets unsettled. That’s how last time you got a target of around 150. So one brilliant spell of bowling or one extended batting cameo can change everything,” Salman Butt remarked.

The former captain emphasized extended contribution from the batter, reiterating that India has the upper hand due to their team balance.

“By cameo, I don’t mean just scoring a quick 30. You’ll need an extended cameo — and a player like him can deliver that. But on paper, if you look at performances, experience, output, and even confidence levels, then I think India has the upper hand.”

The 40-year-old highlighted India’s dual nature and bold claims of playing with three teams simultaneously.

“Yes, India tends to exaggerate a lot and makes big claims — they can even put out three full teams at once. If you look at the system that has been running until recently, that’s true,” he concluded.

READ: Litton Das reflects on Bangladesh win over Hong Kong in Asia Cup 2025

Fakhar Zaman joins Babar Azam in elite list in Pakistan-Afghanistan tri-series clash

SHARJAH: Top-order batter Fakhar Zaman on Tuesday reached a landmark. becoming the sixth player to represent Pakistan in 100 T20Is during the tri-series fixture against Afghanistan here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The southpaw who made his T20I debut in 2017 against the West Indies entered an elusive list. Zaman joined the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, and Shoaib Malik.

Babar Azam has played the most number of matches for Green Shirts in the shorter format of the game with 128 appearances to his name, whereas stalwart Shoaib Malik is in second spot with 125 games.

Most matches for Pakistan in T20Is

Babar Azam – 128 matches
Shoaib Malik – 125 matches
Mohammad Hafeez – 119 matches
Shadab Khan – 112 matches
Mohammad Rizwan – 106 matches
Fakhar Zaman – 100 matches

Before the start of the clash, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a video in which Zaman’s companions extended their wishes to him on this auspicious occasion.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman was congratulated by his teammates ahead of the #PAKvAFG clash on reaching the milestone of 100 T20I appearances,” the PCB captioned the video.

So far, Fakhar Zaman has amassed 1975 runs at an average of 22.44 with the help of 11 half-centuries.

At the time of filing this story, Pakistan were 70-4 in nine overs. Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Nawaz were on the crease in a bid to steady Pakistan’s innings in a 170-run chase.

READ: Faheem Ashraf’s four-fer keeps Afghanistan to 169

WATCH: Fakhar Zaman trains with Pakistan squad ahead of Tri-Series

DUBAI: Pakistan opening batter Fakhar Zaman trained with the national squad here at the ICC Academy ahead of the tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan, which is set to begin on August 29.

Two days earlier, the first group of Pakistan’s T20 squad arrived here to take part in a pre-series training camp ahead of the upcoming Tri-Nation Series and the Asia Cup 2025.

The national side training camp at the ICC Academy will continue until August 27. The sessions are designed to prepare the team for consecutive international assignments in the UAE.

Fakhar, who was ruled out of the West Indies series due to a hamstring injury sustained during the second T20I in Florida, has now resumed training with the squad.

Following his injury, Fakhar Zaman was immediately treated by the team’s physio and has since been sidelined from all cricketing activity.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

As a result, he did not feature in the remaining matches of the West Indies tour. Due to the injury, his place was also in doubt for the Asia Cup 2025 and tri-series, however, he was added to the squad.

For the unversed, the Tri-Nation Series, featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the UAE, will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium from August 29 to September 7.

Pakistan will open its campaign against Afghanistan, with each team playing the others twice, and the top two teams will qualify for the final on September 7.

Following the series, Pakistan will turn its focus to the 2025 Asia Cup, which kicks off on September 9 with the opening match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

Pakistan squad for the UAE tri-series and Asia Cup

Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim

READ: CSA unveils venues as South Africa set to host 44 matches at 2027 World Cup