KARACHI: Defending champion Pakistan suffered a huge blow when opening batter Fakhar Zaman was ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to an oblique injury on Thursday.
Imam-ul-Haq was approved as Fakhar’s replacement for the remainder of the tournament.
Fakhar was injured in the first over of the opening game on Wednesday when he ran after the ball and fell awkwardly in the outfield. He batted in visible discomfort for 24 runs off 41 balls until he was clean-bowled by New Zealand off-spinner Michael Bracewell. Pakistan lost by 60 runs.
It is the second major injury blow to Pakistan’s title defense in its first major tournament as host in 29 years. Saim Ayub broke his ankle during a test in South Africa.
Fakhar, Babar Azam and Faheem Ashraf were the only survivors of the Pakistan team which won the last Champions Trophy in England in 2017. He scored a match-winning 114 against India in the final.
Left-handed opener Imam hasn’t played international cricket since 2023 but has nine centuries in 72 one-day internationals.
Pakistan left for Dubai on Thursday to play India on Sunday.
Imam replaces injured Fakhar in Pakistan Champions Trophy squad
https://arab.news/wvruf
Imam replaces injured Fakhar in Pakistan Champions Trophy squad
- Imam-ul-Haq approved as Fakhar’s replacement for remainder of series
- Fakhar was injured in the first over of the opening game on Wednesday
Perth Scorchers win sixth BBL title after trouncing Sydney Sixers
- The Australia squad will fly to Pakistan to play three 20-over matches
- It will prepare Australia for opening T20 World Cup fixture against Ireland
PERTH: Perth Scorchers raced to their sixth Big Bash League title on Sunday with an emphatic six-wicket victory over Sydney Sixers in the final at Perth Stadium.
Earning hosting rights after crushing the Sixers in a qualifier last week, the Scorchers bowled first and bowled their six-time Grand Final rivals out for a paltry 132 in 20 overs as pacemen David Payne and Jhye Richardson combined for six wickets.
With 15 balls remaining in their reply, the hosts reached 133-4 anchored by a 43-ball 44 from Mitch Marsh.
“It feels like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders, we have high expectations, and to be able to deliver on those expectations is really satisfying,” said Scorchers captain Ashton Turner.
The table-topping Scorchers started their chase in audacious fashion when Marsh, Australia’s T20 captain, pulled the first ball for six.
His opening partner Finn Allen, the season’s top run-scorer with 466, got the better of quick Mitchell Starc in a 19-run fourth over, bringing the crowd to their feet with a scooped six into the second tier.
With rain threatening, the Scorchers powered ahead at nearly 10 an over until a spectacular one-handed catch by Jack Edwards off Starc dismissed Allen for 36.
Seamer Sean Abbott accounted for Aaron Hardie (five) and Marsh, but Josh Inglis (29 not out) saw the Scorchers over the line with a majestic six over long-off.
Earlier, the Perth crowd of 55,018 roared in delight when Sixers’ drawcard Steve Smith, who averaged 60 in the tournament at a strike rate of 168 yet finds himself out of T20 World Cup reckoning, dejectedly departed for 24 when all-rounder Hardie reviewed for lbw.
Fortunate to survive three missed run outs in the space of five balls, skipper Moises Henriques was caught for 24 off the medium pace of Payne, who ended with 3-18.
Fast bowler Mahli Beardman, on the cusp of international selection, closed out the innings with two wickets and a run out in the final over.
The Australia squad will fly to Pakistan for three 20-over matches in preparation for their first T20 World Cup fixture against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
