Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has disclosed details of his conversation with Fakhar Zaman, confirming that the opener sustained a side strain during Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand.
Speaking on a private TV channel, Amir shared that he contacted Fakhar, with whom he developed a close friendship during their ILT20 stint, to check whether the injury was related to his knee or back.
The left-handed batter clarified to Amir that it was a side strain, which could rule him out for nearly two months.
Amir also revealed that during their morning discussion, Fakhar mentioned experiencing mild coughing, which worsens his pain and makes breathing difficult. He added that such injuries typically require around six weeks to heal, followed by a rehabilitation period.
Fakhar suffered the injury in the first over of New Zealand’s innings and had to leave the field for medical assessment. Though he attempted a return later, he was forced to walk off again.
Despite the discomfort, he batted during Pakistan’s chase of 321 but struggled, scoring only 24.
On February 20, Imam-ul-Haq was confirmed as Fakhar’s replacement in Pakistan’s squad.
