Pakistan’s preparations for the upcoming Bangladesh tour have suffered a major setback as the experienced batsman Fakhar Zaman Has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series. This setback has come at a time when Pakistan is already ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Trying to reorganize after disappointing exit from .
Why will Fakhar Zaman not go on Bangladesh tour?
The 35-year-old batsman sustained the injury during the final Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 and will now undergo a rehabilitation process at the Lahore-based National Cricket Academy (NCA) to regain full fitness.
Fakhar sustained the injury while playing a brilliant innings against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Stadium on 28 February. It was a high-pressure encounter, in which the aggressive opener played a brilliant inning of 84 runs in just 42 balls. Batting in his signature style, he hit nine fours and four lofted sixes, giving Pakistan a strong base. Although Pakistan won the match, the victory came too late to keep their World Cup campaign alive. Despite the disappointment of an early exit, Fakhar’s fearless innings remained one of the highlights of Pakistan’s final appearance.
Interestingly, Fakhar played a limited role throughout the competition. He featured in only two matches during the World Cup campaign, missing the group stage matches against the Netherlands, USA, India and Namibia. He returned to the playing XI during the Super Eights stage, where he scored 25 against England and then followed it up with his explosive half-century against Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, an injury sustained during that innings has ruled him out of the Bangladesh series.
Fakhar’s absence will definitely leave a gap in Pakistan’s top order. Over the years, the left-handed batsman has made a mark as one of the team’s most reliable ODI batsmen. In 92 ODIs, he has scored 3,861 runs, with an average of 45.42 and a strike rate of over 93. His record includes 11 centuries, the most memorable of which was an unbeaten 210 against Zimbabwe in 2018. Fakhar is also remembered for his match-winning century against India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, one of the defining moments of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket history.
Who will be in Pakistan’s ODI team in place of Fakhar Zaman?
Meanwhile, the Pakistan team is scheduled to leave for Dhaka on March 9. The team will hold a practice session on March 10 before the start of the series. All three matches are scheduled to be played on March 11, 13 and 15 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
Due to Fakhar’s unavailability, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce a replacement soon. one of the possible replacements Sahibzada Farhan who recently enjoyed a brilliant T20 World Cup campaign. The talented opener finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 383 runs in six innings, breaking Virat Kohli’s long-standing record. His average was 76.60 and strike rate was more than 160. His performances have put him in a strong position to get a spot in the ODI team.
Farhan’s domestic record also strengthens his case. In 72 List-A matches, he has scored 2,926 runs at an average of 41.80, showing the consistency required for the 50-over format. If he is selected, he could get a valuable opportunity to cement his place in Pakistan’s ODI setup.
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