Veteran Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has opened up about the medical condition that sidelined him from the national team for an extended period. Having earned a recall for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, the left-handed batter disclosed that he was suffering from hyperthyroidism, which led to serious complications.
A key player in Pakistan’s limited-overs setup, Fakhar Zaman is known for his power-hitting. However, he has been absent from the national team since the last T20 World Cup and faced controversy for criticizing the selectors over Babar Azam’s exclusion during the England Test series.
In a conversation with Salman Butt on the PCB podcast, Zaman revealed that his condition caused him to lose 10kg and significantly weakened his muscles. He stated:
“Anyone can fall sick. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, which led to a weight loss of 10 kg and weakened my muscles. This was the only reason I was out of the team—there was nothing else. I am fully fit now, but the first four to five matches in domestic cricket were tough, and I felt as if I had forgotten how to play.”
Fakhar Zaman prepared for the tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand at the ILT20 but struggled, scoring 222 runs in nine matches at 27.75. He performed slightly better in the Champions One-Day Cup 2024, tallying 176 runs in five games at an average of 35.20.
Fakhar Zaman aims to replicate his 2017 Champions Trophy success for Pakistan
After his match-winning century against India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, Fakhar Zaman hopes to make the upcoming edition even more special for Pakistan. He stated:
“I will try my best to make this Champions Trophy even more memorable for myself and the team.”
Discussing Babar Azam, the veteran said:
“I believe he will perform well as an opener and make things easier for me.”
The reigning champions will kick off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi.
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