Pakistan suffered a major setback in their Champions Trophy 2025 opener against New Zealand at the National Stadium, Karachi, as Fakhar Zaman was not allowed to open the innings due to ICC regulations. Instead, the aggressive left-hander had to walk in at No. 4, forcing Pakistan to shuffle their batting order in a crucial chase of 321 runs.
The unexpected change disrupted Pakistan’s batting plans and contributed to their slow start, ultimately playing a role in their 60-run defeat.
Let’s break down why Fakhar Zaman was not permitted to open and how it impacted Pakistan’s strategy.
Why Fakhar Zaman Was Not Allowed to Open?
The issue stemmed from ICC playing conditions regarding players who leave the field due to injury.
What Happened?
- On the second ball of the match, Fakhar Zaman suffered an injury while attempting to save a boundary.
- He was in visible pain and had to leave the field for medical attention.
- Fakhar remained off the field for nearly three hours, raising doubts about his availability for the batting innings.
The ICC Rule That Stopped Him From Opening
According to Law 24.2.3.2 of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 playing conditions, a player who has left the field for an extended period can only bat after the same duration of time has passed in the second innings.
🔹 What the Rule Says:
“The player shall not be permitted to bat in the match until his team’s batting innings has been in progress for the length of playing time that is equal to the unexpired penalty time carried forward from the previous innings. However, once his side has lost five wickets in its batting innings, he may bat immediately.”
Simply put, Fakhar had to wait before batting for a time equivalent to how long he was off the field.
When Was Fakhar Allowed to Bat?
Since New Zealand’s innings ended at 6:07 PM local time (6:37 PM IST), Fakhar would only be eligible to bat 25 minutes after Pakistan began their chase.
✔️ Fakhar could only walk out after 7:00 PM Local Time (7:30 PM IST).
✔️ He was not allowed to open the batting and had to wait until a wicket fell after the penalty time expired.
This restriction forced Pakistan to reshuffle their batting order, which proved costly.
How Did This Impact Pakistan’s Batting Strategy?
🔄 Pakistan’s Makeshift Opening Pair
Pakistan’s original plan was for Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam to open. But with Fakhar unavailable, Pakistan had to improvise:
🔹 Babar Azam was promoted to open.
🔹 Saud Shakeel, originally No. 3, opened instead.
🔹 Mohammad Rizwan moved up to No. 3.
Pakistan’s Top-Order Struggles
- Saud Shakeel (6 off 19) failed to provide stability and was dismissed early.
- Mohammad Rizwan (3 off 14) also fell cheaply.
- Babar Azam (64 off 90 balls) struggled with his strike rate, slowing down Pakistan’s chase.
- By the time Fakhar Zaman walked in, Pakistan was already in trouble at 67/3 in 20.5 overs.
Fakhar’s aggressive intent could have made a big difference in the powerplay, but Pakistan was already playing catch-up when he came to bat.
How Did Fakhar Perform After Coming In?
Fakhar eventually walked in at No. 4 after Babar Azam was dismissed. However, by that point:
🔹 Pakistan had already lost three wickets.
🔹 The required run rate had climbed significantly.
🔹 New Zealand bowlers were in control.
Although Fakhar tried to anchor the innings, the damage was already done.
Could Pakistan Have Avoided This Issue?
Pakistan was put in a tough spot due to Fakhar’s injury and the ICC rule. However, some possible strategies could have minimized the impact:
Keeping Fakhar on the Field Briefly:
- If Fakhar had returned to the field sooner, even for a short period, his penalty time would have been reduced.
- This could have allowed him to open the batting.
Better Backup Plans for Openers:
- Pakistan’s squad lacked another specialist opener besides Fakhar.
- Instead of adjusting the batting order, they could have sent in an aggressive middle-order batter as a makeshift opener to accelerate the innings.
What’s Next for Pakistan?
Pakistan’s loss to New Zealand has put them in a must-win situation ahead of their next game against India on February 23.
📌 Pakistan’s Remaining Group A Matches:
📅 Pakistan vs India – February 23, Dubai
📅 Pakistan vs Bangladesh – February 27, Rawalpindi
With their semifinal hopes at stake, Pakistan needs:
✅ A Strong Opening Stand – Fakhar must stay fit and ready to open.
✅ Better Batting Approach – Powerplay overs must be utilized effectively.
✅ Smart Bowling Execution – The bowlers need to restrict opponents to under 300 runs.
Could Fakhar’s Absence at the Top Have Changed the Outcome?
Pakistan’s batting struggles in the powerplay were one of the key reasons for their defeat. With Fakhar Zaman forced to sit out the first few overs, the team failed to build momentum early on.
Had Fakhar been allowed to open, Pakistan might have:
✔️ Had a more aggressive start.
✔️ Kept up with the required run rate.
✔️ Avoided middle-order pressure.
Unfortunately, due to ICC playing conditions, Fakhar was not eligible to open, disrupting Pakistan’s strategy and contributing to their slow start.
With a must-win match against India coming up, Pakistan cannot afford another tactical setback. Will they bounce back and keep their Champions Trophy hopes alive?
📢 Stay tuned for more updates, expert analysis, and exclusive insights on the Champions Trophy 2025! 🏏🔥
