MASSIVE Blow To Pakistan! Star Batter Ruled Out Of Champions Trophy 2025 Just Before Match Vs India
Photo : AP
Pakistan began their campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on a disastrous note as New Zealand defeated them in the opening game of the competition at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. In order to avoid being knocked out from the group stages, Pakistan now needs to win their next match, a blockbuster encounter against India in Dubai on February 23 (Sunday). However, before the match they have suffered a big blow as one of their players will not take further part in the tournament.
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Star opening batter Fakhar Zaman has been officially ruled out for the remainder of the Champions Trophy 2025. He suffered an oblique injury while fielding during the match against New Zealand, and had to be taken off field. He even did not come out to open and came in to bat at n0.4 instead.
He scored 24 from 41 balls but looked in extreme pain in the middle as he struggled to run between the wickets. Experienced opening batter Imam Ul Haq has been named as his replacement. Imam has not played a single ODI for Pakistan since the 2023 ODI World Cup. In total, he has played 72 ODIs and scored 3138 runs at an average of 48.27.
Will Young, Tom Latham Centuries Power New Zealand To Massive Win Vs Pakistan
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first in the opening game of the Champions Trophy. They got off to a good start as they took three wickets for 73 runs inside 17 overs. However, Will Young and Tom Latham pulled things back in New Zealand's favour, as the duo put on a partnership of 118 runs. Young went on to slam a century, getting out for 106.
Glenn Phillips then joined Latham as the duo put on 125 runs for the fifth wicket. Latham went on to score the most runs by a batter in a Champions Trophy match against Pakistan as he remained not out of 118. Phillips also chipped in with a 38-ball 61. New Zealand scored 320/5 in the first innings.
The hosts never looked in control while chasing. Khushdil Shah and Salman Ali Agha were the only batters who were looking in control as they slammed 69 and 42 runs respectively. Babar Azam too scored 64 but he wasted a lot of deliveries in his innings, scoring his runs in 90 balls. The Men in Green could only manage 260 as they lost by 60 runs
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