Pakistan opening batter Fakhar Zaman sent an injury scare through the home side as he clutched his back in the Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi. Although he was back on the field, there are doubts over whether he can bat and an update on the same has been issued.
The incident occurred in the very first over of the innings as Will Young drove one delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi through the cover region. While Zaman chased the ball and prevented it from going it to the boundary, the left-hander was clutching his lower back a few moments later and sat near the advertising board.
According to ESPN Cricinfo,
"If Pakistan do not stay out there till 6:26pm local (which they most likely won't), he can only come in at number 5. If, somehow, they do stay on till then, he can open"
Pakistan opt to field in Karachi after winning toss
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan, meanwhile, won the toss and opted to field first against the Black Caps.
Pakistan playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
New Zealand playing XI: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, William ORourke.
The home side are under the pump after two defeats to the Kiwis in the preceding tri-series. Pakistan, who are the defending champions, sealed their first Champions Trophy title in 2017 after defeating India in the final by 180 runs. At the time of writing this, New Zealand were 207/4 in 40 overs.
