Pakistan, the defending champions, are eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on home soil after back-to-back losses against New Zealand and India. The early exit sparked speculation about injured Fakhar Zaman’s future, with reports suggesting he was considering retirement from ODI cricket on Wednesday.
However, the 34-year-old batter dismissed these rumours in the video posted by Pakistan Cricket on social media stating that he has no plans to retire and remains determined to play across all formats. “I’ve heard the retirement rumours, but there’s no truth to them.”
He acknowledged that due to his thyroid condition, he had considered taking a break but never thought about retiring. “One-day cricket is my favorite format, and I still want to play ODIs, T20s, and even Test cricket,” he emphasized.
Zaman’s Champions Trophy campaign took a hit when he injured his lower back while fielding in the opening match against New Zealand. The injury affected his performance, and he knew his tournament might be over. “I felt the pain and realized my campaign was likely done,” he said.
Pakistan missed his presence at the top of the order, and Zaman believes his participation could have made a difference in chasing big targets. He shared that his recovery is progressing well, and doctors have allowed him to start training in three weeks. He expects to return to competitive cricket in a month.
Despite being primarily a limited-overs player, Zaman expressed his desire to play Test cricket, though he acknowledged that the decision rests with the selectors. “I’d love to make a comeback, but it’s up to them where they see me fitting in,” he concluded.
