Fakhar Zaman likely to be excluded from the Bangladesh ODI Tour

Fakhar Zaman is expected to miss the three-match ODI tour of Bangladesh, starting March 11, as he recovers from a hamstring injury he picked up during the T20 World Cup. Although he featured in only two games against England and Sri Lanka, the left-handed batter has a history of hamstring strains.

Fakhar’s history of hamstring strains

In the previous year alone, Fakhar was twice ruled out with a similar injury, including being ruled out of the entire Champions Trophy in the opening game. The extent of his recent injury remains unclear, but the rehabilitation is understood to take more time than Pakistan have before the series begins on March 11.

Major changes on the cards

This will be one of the three scheduled series that Pakistan will play this year in preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Following what was their fourth consecutive premature exit from an ICC event before reaching the finals, the Pakistan Cricket Board is mulling over tough decisions. 

Several senior players are being considered for the axe, and with Fakhar, who was the only senior player to carry an impact during the T20 World Cup, also absent, a wet-behind-the-ears side might be named to face Bangladesh.

Pakistan are scheduled to fly to Bangladesh on March 9. However, with the recent Middle East conflict and the closure of key regional airspaces that followed, the departure might be postponed.

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