ISLAMABAD — Fakhar Zaman is optimistic about making his comeback to international cricket after an eight-month hiatus, with the Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in Pakistan next month.
Fakhar has not participated in international matches since Pakistan was eliminated in the first round of the T20 World Cup last June, which also resulted in him missing out on a central contract from the Pakistan Cricket Board for the first time in eight years.
In an interview on the Vipers Voices podcast, Fakhar explained, “People don’t know that after the T20 World Cup I got sick. I wasn’t part of the team because of my medical condition, but now I’m 100% confident I will play for Pakistan.”
The seasoned opening batsman drew attention when he publicly criticized the national cricket administration shortly before Babar Azam was controversially left out of the final two home Test matches against England last year, amid concerns over his performance in red-ball cricket. This prompted the PCB to issue a notice to Fakhar regarding his social media post in support of Babar.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was not pleased with the situation, expressing worries about Fakhar’s fitness. “It cannot happen that if the selection committee is not picking one player, others start voicing their discontent through tweets,” Naqvi remarked to reporters. “Players cannot operate in this way, and we won’t allow it. The key issue regarding Fakhar is that he was unable to pass the fitness test.”
During Fakhar’s absence, the Pakistan team secured three ODI series victories over the past two months against Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, under the leadership of new white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan.
Fakhar made his return to competitive cricket last month, participating in the domestic Champions Cup T20 tournament, where he emerged as the third-highest scorer, amassing 303 runs in 10 games at a strike rate of 132.31.
“The plan was to ensure I was fit and ready for the Champions Trophy,” Fakhar said. “I feel fortunate to be fit right now. I began my journey at the Champions Trophy 2017, and it turned out really well for me. I’m very eager for the upcoming edition too.”
His performance in the 2017 tournament was memorable, as he scored a pivotal century in the final against India.
Pakistan’s latest white-ball sensation, Saim Ayub, who recently recorded two ODI centuries in South Africa, suffered a fractured right ankle during the second Test in Cape Town last week, sidelining him from competitive play for at least six weeks, which raises questions about his availability for the Champions Trophy.
To aid his recovery, the PCB arranged for Ayub to be flown to London from Cape Town for treatment, and Fakhar expressed hope that Ayub would heal quickly as the team prepares for its first major ICC tournament in 29 years.
“I genuinely hope he (Ayub) recovers swiftly,” Fakhar mentioned. “I actually considered calling Saim yesterday to discuss his injury. Honestly, he is such a remarkable player that if he continues in cricket for the next four to five years, he’ll definitely be among the top three players globally.”
As he competes for the Desert Vipers in the ILT20, Fakhar has become a prime target for Tom Moody, the cricket director for the franchise, and he expressed enthusiasm about playing alongside Sherfane Rutherford, the T20 captain from West Indies.
“He is one of the finest players in the T20 format, and I genuinely enjoy watching him bat,” he stated. “I’m incredibly excited to be part of this team and eager to share the crease with him, as he is one of the best players.”
