Attacking opener Fakhar Zaman has been axed from the Pakistan side after having a poor 2024 T20 World Cup. However, he has been brought into the side for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Before getting dropped from the squad Fakhar would also criticize Pakistan Cricket Board for dropping Babar Azam from the side during a Test series against England. While there have been speculations if that was also part of the reason behind his getting dropped Zaman would clear the air and say he was diagnosed with a health condition. "Anyone can fall sick. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, which led to a weight loss of 10 kg and weakened my muscles. This was the only reason I was out of the team—there was nothing else. I am fully fit now, but the first four to five matches in domestic cricket were tough, and I felt as if I had forgotten how to play," Zaman said on podcast with Salman Butt. In the last edition of Champions Trophy in 2017 Fakhar played a crucial role in Pakistan's win. He scored a squash-buckling ton in the final to help Men In Green lift the trophy. "I will try my best to make this Champions Trophy even more memorable for myself and the team. I believe he will perform well as an opener and make things easier for me." While Zaman can win games on his day he can also be inconsistent at times which has frustrated the Pakistan supporters. “The big problem is Fakhar Zaman. He is an unorthodox hitter, but when someone like that gets out of form, it takes some time to find solutions on the drawing board. He’s a bottom-handed player, plays on the leg-side, somehow he adjusts with that and scores,” Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja said on his YouTube channel once on his technique.
