Fakhar Zaman has been sidelined from the Champions Trophy after suffering a back injury in the opening match against New Zealand.
The left-handed batter injured his back while fielding in the first over of the match at Karachi’s National Stadium.
Attempting to stop a boundary off the delivery of Shaheen, Zaman fell awkwardly near the boundary rope, clutching his lower back.
He signaled for a substitute fielder before being attended to by the physiotherapist and escorted off the field for further assessment.
Following medical evaluations, doctors have advised Zaman to rest, effectively ending his participation in the tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to issue an official statement soon regarding a replacement for the injured batsman.
This setback is a blow as Zaman was a key top-order player. The team will now need to rethink their opening combination for the rest of the competition.
The PCB is likely to announce the replacement of Fakhar in the coming days as they continue their campaign in the tournament.