Wasim Akram: “Fakhar Zaman is a match-winner, and there is no doubt about it”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Iconic Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram said “there is no doubt about it” that big-hitter Fakhar Zaman “is a match-winner”.
Zaman is expected to make his international comeback really soon as he was picked in Pakistan’s squad for the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa.
He has also been selected for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be held from February 19 to March 9.
The 34-year-old last played international cricket during the 2024 T20 World Cup and has since missed Pakistan’s tours of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
He also wasn’t picked for the two-Test series against the West Indies in Multan, which concluded as a 1-1 draw.
While he has been away from the international scene, Zaman has featured in domestic cricket and did well in the Champions T20 Cup, where he ended up being 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.
“Fakhar Zaman is a match-winner, and there is no doubt about it,” Wasim was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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