Fakhar Zaman Out, Imam-ul-Haq In for India Clash

Pakistan's cricket team faces a significant challenge in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as key opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out due to an oblique muscle injury sustained during the opening match against New Zealand. Zaman, who struggled with the injury while batting at number four, managed only 24 runs in a match Pakistan lost by 60 runs. The International Cricket Council has approved Imam-ul-Haq as his replacement, who was once Pakistan's first-choice opener but had been out of the team since the 2023 World Cup. The team needs to regroup quickly for their crucial upcoming match against India in Dubai to keep their title defense hopes alive. The loss of Zaman, known for his pivotal century in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against India, is a severe blow to Pakistan's batting strength. Concerns persist as Pakistan also deals with other fitness issues and a challenging tournament start.