Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir, who shares a close friendship with explosive opener Fakhar Zaman, has shed light on the nature of the injury and the tough road to recovery that lies ahead.
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign has hit an early roadblock with the loss of their opener, who picked up an unfortunate injury during the opening match against New Zealand, forcing him out of the tournament.
Fakhar Zaman’s Painful Exit
The injury happened in the very first over of New Zealand’s innings. Fakhar awkwardly fell while fielding and immediately had to leave the ground for medical assessment. Though he made an attempt to return, he eventually walked off again—raising concerns about his condition.
Despite the discomfort, Fakhar still came out to bat in Pakistan’s chase of 321. But it was clear he wasn’t himself. His usual attacking game was missing, and he struggled to a scratchy 24 before getting dismissed.
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With his injury confirmed, Pakistan moved quickly to replace him, bringing in Imam-ul-Haq, who recently impressed in the Champions Trophy warm-up match against South Africa.
Amir’s Conversation With Fakhar
Speaking on a private TV channel, Mohammad Amir revealed that he reached out to Fakhar after hearing about the injury. Given their strong bond—having spent over a month together in the ILT20—Amir wanted to check on his well-being.
He initially asked Fakhar if the injury was related to his knee or back, but the left-hander clarified that it was a side strain—an injury that could sideline him for up to two months.
During their conversation, Fakhar also mentioned experiencing mild coughing, which worsens his pain and makes breathing difficult.
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How Long Will Fakhar Be Out?
Mohammad Amir explained that side strain injuries typically take around six weeks to heal, followed by a rehabilitation phase before a player can return to full action. Even in a best-case scenario, Fakhar might only be back for the later stages of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
This is a significant blow for Pakistan, as Fakhar was expected to play a key role at the top of the order in the Champions Trophy. Now, the team will have to quickly adjust and find a way to fill the void left by his absence.
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