LAHORE — Pakistan opening batter Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh after sustaining a hamstring injury, the Pakistan team management confirmed on Tuesday.
The left-handed batter will remain in Lahore to undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy as medical staff focus on his recovery ahead of future international assignments.
Zaman had recently featured in the ICC T20 World Cup, where he played an aggressive innings against Sri Lanka. However, the injury has forced him out of Pakistan’s squad for the three-match ODI series scheduled to be played in Bangladesh later this month.
Pakistan tour schedule
Pakistan are set to travel to Bangladesh for a short ODI tour beginning next week. The national side will arrive in Dhaka on March 9 and hold a training session the following day.
The first ODI between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played on March 11, while the second and third matches are scheduled for March 13 and March 15.
All three matches will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
Recent tours between the two teams
This will be Pakistan’s second visit to Bangladesh in less than a year. During their previous tour in July 2025, Bangladesh won the T20 series.
Earlier in 2025, Pakistan had defeated Bangladesh 3-0 in a T20 series played in May and June under the captaincy of Salman Ali Agha.
Team management has not yet announced a replacement for Zaman in the ODI squad.
PCB Reportedly Slaps Rs. 5 Million Fine on Each Player After T20 World Cup Exit
LAHORE — The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly imposed a fine of Rs5 million on each player of the national squad following Pakistan’s early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Pakistan entered the tournament with high expectations but failed to advance beyond the Super 8 stage. The team narrowly escaped defeat against the Netherlands and later defeated the United States and Namibia to progress.
However, their Super 8 campaign faltered after a rain-affected match against New Zealand and a crucial loss to England. Although Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka, the result was insufficient to improve their net run rate, allowing New Zealand to secure a semi-final spot.
Shahid Afridi criticises Shaheen Afridi over T20 World Cup bowling approach
LAHORE — Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has criticised fast bowler Shaheen Afridi for his bowling approach during the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, pointing to what he described as repeated tactical mistakes in key moments of matches.
Speaking on a private television programme, Afridi said Shaheen’s decisions during the final overs reflected lapses in basic game awareness, particularly when bowling to right-handed batters. He noted that death-over execution is often decisive in T20 cricket.
Afridi said that despite years of international experience, the left-arm pacer appeared to repeat similar errors. He highlighted situations where Shaheen bowled round the wicket to right-handed batters when the angle was not considered the preferred option.
He added that even when using that approach, deliveries should be directed within the stumps to reduce scoring opportunities and control the batter’s options.
The former captain said such issues had been discussed previously but continued to appear in high-pressure matches. He also stressed that responsibility for results lies with the entire team and that players must remain willing to learn and adapt their strategies.
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