Fakhar Zaman said that he has not yet given up representing Pakistan again. The left-handed batsman has dropped down the pecking order and has not played for Pakistan since the 2024 T20 World Cup last June.
With Saim Ayub performing well for Pakistan, many believe that Fakhar Zaman is unlikely to play for Pakistan anytime soon. However, the southpaw insists he will be wearing the green jersey soon. In fact, he is also gearing up for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be played on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.
Incidentally, it was the Champions Trophy that made the Pakistani batsman a household name. In the 2017 Champions Trophy final, Fakhar Zaman announced his arrival at the highest stage of the game by scoring a stunning century against arch-rivals India.
Read also: Sam Konstas leaked a private conversation with Virat Kohli after the shoulder incident
Thanks to his century, Pakistan thrashed India and won their first ever Champions Trophy title. After that knock, Fakhar became a regular member of the Pakistan team in the white-ball format. Although things have not been going well for him recently, Fakhar is very optimistic and hopes to return to international cricket soon.
“100%, I will play for Pakistan (again),” Fakhar Zaman told Vipers Voices Radio. “Actually, many people don't know this, but after the T20 World Cup I fell ill and due to the medical condition I was not fit, so I was not part of the team.
“But now I have recovered 100% and you will see me in the next white-ball series that Pakistan will play.
“My plan was around the Champions Trophy. I didn't play on the Australian tour or on the South African tour, so my whole plan was just to play in the Champions Trophy, be available and be fully fit for the tournament.
“It's been on my mind and I'm grateful and I'm lucky to be fit now. I started from the Champions Cup 2017 and it was very good for me and now I'm very excited for the next edition as well. The 34-year-old added: “I've spoken to the people in charge of “The selection, the coach, everyone wanted me to play in the Champions Cup.”
Pottery of the past on the fasting of Ayoub:
Fakhar Zaman also spoke about 22-year-old Saim Ayub who recently enjoyed a fantastic tour of South Africa. After scoring 98 runs in the second T20I, Ayub scored two centuries in the three-match ODI series. He also impressed during his tour of Australia last November.
However, the youngster is a doubt for the Champions Trophy after suffering an ankle injury while playing during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
“I hope and believe he will recover quickly, and yesterday I was thinking of calling Sime just to talk to him about this injury. Believe me, he is a great player if he continues to play for the next four or five games.” “After years, he will be at the top and among the top three players in the world,” Fekhar said.
Speaking further, Fakhar said that the intense competition to open the innings for Pakistan does not bother him. He stated that he is ready to bat at any position for the team.
“In Pakistan, we have three of the best players in the world in Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub, so sometimes I feel lucky to be in the team even if I cannot book my place in the team as an opener,” Fakhar said.
“If the team trusts me and they want me to play fourth or fifth, it makes perfect sense, because for me the team is always first and I play wherever the team wants me to play, but I always prefer to open,” he added.
Read also: A strong blow to Akash Deb! Besser's career is in jeopardy as BCCI drops a major bombshell