Wasim Akram: “This is great news for Pakistan cricket. Fakhar Zaman is in excellent form ahead of the Champions Trophy”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan left-arm seamer Wasim Akram has issued a warning about big-hitting batsman Fakhar Zaman, saying he is in “excellent form ahead of the Champions Trophy”.
Zaman has been included in Pakistan’s squad for the tournament, which will take place from February 19 to March 9.
The 34-year-old last represented his country at the 2024 T20 World Cup and therefore missed the tours of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
He also wasn’t considered for selection for the two-Test series against the West Indies, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
In his time away from the national team, Zaman has been playing domestic cricket and did exceptionally well in the Champions T20 Cup, where he finished as the third-highest run-scorer with 303 runs in 10 matches for the Markhors, which included two fifties, at an average of 30.30 and a strike-rate of 132.31.
“This is great news for Pakistan cricket. Fakhar Zaman is in excellent form ahead of the Champions Trophy,” Wasim was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Prior to the Champions Trophy, Zaman is expected to make his international comeback in Pakistan’s ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa.
Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah