'Ready to play for Pakistan at 100%,' says Fakhar Zaman ahead of CT 2025

Pakistan's star batter Fakhar Zaman officially announced his return to the international arena on Wednesday, with his sights firmly set on the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The opening batter, currently sidelined due to health issues following the 2024 T20 World Cup, is determined to make a strong comeback for his country.

In a recent interview, Fakhar shared the challenges he faced during his time off the field.

"100%, I will play for Pakistan again," said Fakhar.

"Actually, many people do not know this, but after the T20 World Cup, I got sick and due to my medical condition, I was not fit, so I was not part of the team."

"I did not play in the Australia tour or the South Africa tour, so my whole plan was just to play in the Champions Trophy, to make myself available and to be fully fit for the tournament," he added.

The left-handed batter's impact on Pakistan cricket has been immense, especially during the 2017 Champions Trophy, where he made his ODI debut.

He played a pivotal role in Pakistan's historic win, amassing 252 runs in four matches at an average of 63.00 and a strike rate of 113.

His match-winning 114 runs in the final against India helped Pakistan secure a 180-run victory and claim their maiden Champions Trophy title.

The opening batter expressed his enthusiasm for returning to action.

"That was in the back of my mind and I am thankful and lucky to be fit right now. I started from the 2017 Champions Trophy, and that went really well for me and now I am very excited for the next edition as well. I spoke to the selectors, the head coach and everyone wants me to play in the Champions Trophy," he said.

Alongside his own return, Fakhar also praised the rising star Saim Ayub, wishing him a swift recovery.

"I hope and believe that he will recover quickly and I was thinking yesterday about calling Saim just to talk to him about this injury," Fakhar said.

"Believe me, he is such a great player that if he continues to play for the next four to five years, he will be at the top and he will be among the top three players in the world," he added.

On his role in the team, the 34-year-old emphasised his flexibility and commitment to the team's success.

"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 am not able to make my place as an opener," he said.

"If the team has faith in me and wants me to bat at number four or five, that totally makes sense, because for me, the team always comes first and I play wherever the team wants me to play. But I always prefer to open," he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that the Champions Trophy, scheduled to run from February 19 to March 9, 2025, will be co-hosted by Pakistan and Dubai.

The tournament features two groups:

Group A: Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh

Group B: Afghanistan, South Africa, England, Australia

Hosts Pakistan will kick off the event against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, while the much-anticipated clash against India is set for February 23 in Dubai.