Fakhar Zaman said he still hasn’t given up on representing Pakistan again. The left-handed batsman has fallen down the order and has not played for the Pakistan team since the 2024 T20 World Cup last June.
With Saim Ayub doing well for Pakistan, many believe that Fakhar Zaman is unlikely to play for Pakistan anytime soon. However, the southpaw is adamant that he will wear the green jersey soon. In fact, he is also preparing for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which is being played from February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.
Incidentally, it was the Champions Trophy that made the Pakistani batsman a household name. In the Champions Trophy 2017 final, Fakhar Zaman announced his arrival at the highest stage of the game by scoring a sensational century against arch-rivals India.
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Thanks to his century, Pakistan defeated India to win their first Champions Trophy title. After that knock, Fakhar became an integral member of the Pakistan team in the white ball format. Although things have not been going well for him lately, Fakhar is very optimistic and hopes to return to international cricket soon.
“100%, I will play for Pakistan (again),” Fakhar Zaman told the Vipers Voices podcast. “Actually, many people don’t know about it, but after the T20 World Cup, I fell ill and due to my health condition, I was not fit, so I was not part of the team.
“But now I [have] he has recovered 100%, and you will see me in the next white ball series that Pakistan plays.
“My plan was around the Champions Trophy. I didn’t play in the Australian tour or the South African tour, so my whole plan was just to play in the Champions Trophy, make myself available and be fully fit for the tournament. .
“It’s been in the back of my mind and I’m grateful and I’m happy that I’m fit right now. I started with the Champions Trophy in 2017 and it went really well for me and now I’m very excited about the next edition as well. I spoke to the coach, the head coach and everyone wanted me to play at the Champions Trophy,” added the 34-year-old.
Fakhar Zaman on Saim Ayub:
Fakhar Zaman also spoke about the 22-year-old sensation Saim Ayub who recently enjoyed an impressive tour of South Africa. After scoring 98 in the second T20I, Ayub scored two centuries in the three-match ODI series. He also impressed during the Australian tour last November.
However, the youngster is a doubt for the Champions Trophy after suffering an ankle injury while on the field during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
“I hope and I believe that he will recover quickly and I was thinking of calling Saim yesterday just to talk to him about this injury. Believe me, he is such a great player that if he continues to play for the next four to five years, he will be on top and will be among the top three players in the world,” said Fakhar.
Speaking further, Fakhar said that he is not bothered by the tough competition to open the innings for Pakistan. He stated that he is ready to play in any position for the team.
“We have three of the best players in the world in Pakistan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub, so sometimes I feel lucky to be in the team even if I am not able to find my place in the team as an opener,” said Fakhar.
“If the team has confidence in me and wants me to bat at number four or five, it makes perfect sense, because for me the team is always first and I play wherever the team wants me to play, but I always prefer to open,” he added.
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