Pakistan’s preparations for the upcoming Bangladesh tour have suffered a major blow as the experienced batsman Fakhar Zaman Are out of the three-match ODI series. The setback comes at a time when Pakistan is already trying to regroup after a disappointing performance ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Why will Fakhar Zaman not tour Bangladesh?
The 35-year-old suffered the injury during Pakistan’s final Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 and will now undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore as he works towards regaining full fitness.
Fakhar suffered the injury while playing a remarkable innings against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Stadium on 28 February. In this extremely pressurized match, the aggressive opening batsman played a sensational inning of 84 runs in just 42 balls. Batting with trademark flair, he hit nine fours and four sky-scraping sixes, giving Pakistan a strong platform. Although Pakistan managed to win the match, the victory came too late to keep their World Cup campaign alive. Despite the disappointment of being dismissed early, Fakhar’s fearless innings was one of the highlights of Pakistan’s final innings in the tournament.
Interestingly, Fakhar’s role was limited throughout the competition. He appeared in only two matches during the World Cup campaign, missing the group-stage games against the Netherlands, USA, India and Namibia. He returned to the playing eleven during the Super Eight stage and scored 25 against England before scoring an explosive half-century against Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, his injury during that innings has now caused him to miss the Bangladesh series.
Fakhar’s absence will undoubtedly leave a void in Pakistan’s top order. Over the years, the left-handed batsman has established himself as one of the team’s most reliable ODI batsmen. In 92 ODIs, he has scored 3,861 runs at an impressive average of 45.42 and a strike rate of over 93. His record includes 11 centuries, with his most memorable innings being 210 not out against Zimbabwe in 2018. Fakhar is also remembered for his match-winning century in the 2017 Champions Trophy final against India, one of the defining moments in Pakistan’s white-ball cricket history.
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Who will replace Fakhar Zaman in Pakistan’s ODI team?
Meanwhile, the Pakistan team is scheduled to leave for Dhaka on March 9. The team will have a practice session on March 10 before the series begins. All three matches are scheduled to be held on March 11, 13 and 15 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
With Fakhar unavailable, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce a replacement soon. is one of the leading contenders Sahebzada FarhanWho recently enjoyed a remarkable T20 World Cup campaign. The talented opener finished as the leading run-scorer in the tournament, breaking Virat Kohli’s long-standing record by scoring 383 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 76.60 and a strike rate of over 160. His performance has firmly placed him in a strong position to make it to the ODI team as well.
Farhan’s domestic record also strengthens his case. In 72 List-A matches, he has scored 2,926 runs at an average of 41.80, showing the consistency required for the 50-over format. If selected, he could get a valuable opportunity to cement his place in Pakistan’s ODI setup.