Fakhar Zaman reveals reason behind ODI absence, outlines future ambitions

LAHORE: Pakistan opening batter Fakhar Zaman has revealed that an undiagnosed thyroid condition caused him to lose 15 kilograms, significantly affecting his fitness before the illness was eventually diagnosed.

During a recent interview alongside former Pakistan captain Salman Butt on the PCB's Straight Drive podcast, Fakhar disclosed that he initially mistook his deteriorating condition for the usual physical toll of international cricket and continued playing despite the warning signs.

"When you play regular cricket, minor niggles are part of the game, but I suffered from an actual illness which I wasn't aware of initially—I developed a thyroid condition," Fakhar said.

"Because of it, I lost about 15kg. Since I didn't know, I just kept playing because players don't give up easily. It severely affected my fitness, and when it finally confined me to bed, I realised something was wrong, and it was diagnosed," he added.

The left-handed opener said he has now fully recovered from the illness and returned to full fitness after spending several months rehabilitating at the Pakistan Cricket Board's National Cricket Academy (NCA).

"Alhamdulillah, I am perfectly fit now. The illness has been cured, and I even played the World Cup after that, but during the World Cup, I picked up a few more injuries that I had been carrying for a while.

"Luckily, I got some time off recently. I missed six ODIs—three against Australia and three against Bangladesh—but I used those two to three months at the NCA to work hard on my fitness.

"All my niggles are gone now, and I have started playing again."

Fakhar also explained that his decision to miss the recent ODI series was aimed at ensuring he returned in peak condition rather than risking aggravating lingering injuries.

The experienced batter stressed that his long-term focus remains the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 4 to November 21.

"I don't think too far ahead. Right now, my next target is the 2027 ODI World Cup—that is what is on my mind.

"All these recent matches that I missed, I could have played if I wanted to, but I knew that if these minor niggles worsened, they might affect my main goal. That's why I took this two to three-month break. My main target right now is the ODI World Cup."

For the unversed, the 35-year-old has been one of Pakistan's most destructive white-ball batters since making his international debut in 2013. He has played 92 ODIs, scoring 3,861 runs at an average of 45.42, including 10 centuries and 19 fifties, with a career-best score of 210 not out.

He announced himself on the global stage by smashing a match-winning century against India in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final, helping Pakistan secure their maiden Champions Trophy title.

The left-hander has since established himself as one of Pakistan's leading ODI batters and remains a key figure in the national team's white-ball setup, renowned for his aggressive stroke play and ability to dominate bowling attacks at the top of the order.