KARACHI, Pakistan — Defending champions Pakistan faced a significant setback when their opening batsman, Fakhar Zaman, was declared unfit for the Champions Trophy due to an oblique injury sustained on Thursday.

Imam-ul-Haq has been named as Fakhar’s replacement for the rest of the tournament.

Fakhar’s injury occurred during the first over of the opening match on Wednesday, where he attempted to chase down a ball and landed awkwardly in the outfield. Despite his injury, he continued to bat for some time, scoring 24 runs off 41 balls before being dismissed by New Zealand’s off-spinner Michael Bracewell. Pakistan ultimately lost the match by 60 runs.

This marks the second significant injury setback for Pakistan as they defend their title in their first major tournament as hosts in nearly three decades. Furthermore, Saim Ayub suffered a broken ankle during a test series in South Africa.

Fakhar, along with teammates Babar Azam and Faheem Ashraf, is one of the few remaining players from the squad that clinched the last Champions Trophy in England back in 2017, where he famously scored a remarkable 114 in the final against India.

Imam, who has not participated in international cricket since 2023, brings with him a solid track record, including nine centuries in 72 One-Day Internationals (ODIs).

Pakistan’s team is now set to travel to Dubai on Thursday in preparation for their upcoming clash against India this Sunday.