Thu Feb 20 08:02:43 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman Injured, Raising Concerns Ahead of India Clash
**Dubai, UAE** – Pakistan’s chances in the ICC Champions Trophy suffered an early blow after opener Fakhar Zaman sustained an injury during their opening match against New Zealand. The injury, sustained while fielding on only the second ball of the game, forced Zaman to miss a significant portion of the innings. While he returned to bat at number four, scoring only 24 runs off 41 balls, his limited participation hampered Pakistan’s chase, ultimately resulting in a 60-run defeat.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan expressed concern over Zaman’s condition post-match, stating that a diagnosis is pending but that Zaman is experiencing pain. Rizwan acknowledged that Zaman’s absence significantly disrupted Pakistan’s powerplay strategy, leading to a slow start where they managed only 22 runs in the first ten overs.
Zaman’s injury casts a long shadow over Pakistan’s upcoming crucial match against India on Sunday. A win is vital for Pakistan to remain in contention for the tournament, while India begins their campaign today against Bangladesh. The extent of Zaman’s injury and his availability for the India match remains uncertain.
First Piper 