In a concerning development for Pakistan, Fakhar Zaman, the top batter, has sustained an injury while fielding in the first over of the first match against New Zealand at the 2025 Champions Trophy. Zaman was chasing a shot from Will Young in the opening over when he appeared to hurt his knee or side while attempting to field the ball. He was immediately taken off the field, and Kamran Ghulam replaced him in the outfield. The injury to Pakistan’s key batter adds a layer of uncertainty as they begin their defense of the Champions Trophy title.
The match, being played at National Stadium in Karachi, saw Pakistan win the toss and opt to bowl first. New Zealand opened their innings with Devon Conway and Will Young, while Pakistan’s bowlers, including Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, took charge. With Fakhar Zaman’s unfortunate injury, the team will need to adjust, and it remains to be seen how this will affect their strategy moving forward in the tournament.
The lineups for both teams are as follows:
New Zealand (Playing XI):
- Devon Conway
- Will Young
- Kane Williamson
- Daryl Mitchell
- Tom Latham (w)
- Glenn Phillips
- Michael Bracewell
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Nathan Smith
- Matt Henry
- William ORourke
Pakistan (Playing XI):
- Fakhar Zaman
- Babar Azam
- Saud Shakeel
- Mohammad Rizwan (w/c)
- Salman Agha
- Tayyab Tahir
- Khushdil Shah
- Shaheen Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Haris Rauf
- Abrar Ahmed
Match Details:
- Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl.