ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan Coach Aaqib Javed's BIGGEST Concern is Fakhar Zaman's Fitness

Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman has not been in action for a while because of his fitness issues and that seems to be the biggest problem for the newly-appointed coach ahead of Champions Trophy 2025. As per Aaqib Javed, Zaman is a match-winner and he would be back in the team once he is fit. Fakhar missed Pakistan's recent white-ball series in Australia, but Javed hopes to see the dashing left-hander back playing for his country as soon as possible.

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‘Fakhar is a match-winner’

"Fakhar is a match-winner, he has performed for Pakistan for many years. He was having some fitness problems,” Aaqib noted.

“We are in communication with Fakhar. Whenever he gets fit, the selection committee will definitely consider him for selection and you’ll see him (back playing) in the future."

WHAT NEXT FOR PAKISTAN?

Pakistan will travel to Zimbabwe for three ODIs and three T20Is later this month, before embarking on a six-match (three ODIs, three T20Is) white-ball tour of South Africa prior to Christmas that Aqib hopes will have his players primed for the Champions Trophy tournament that is scheduled to commence in February next year.

“You'll see a settled team in this format. You'll see changes in the T20I format. We plan to give new players chances in the Zimbabwe series,” he added.

"It is a message and opportunity to the new players to take the chances they've been given. If you don't give new players chances, you'll never get the opportunity to improve your bench strength," he further added. 

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There is much uncertainty over the Champions Trophy still as PCB is not agreeing to the ‘hybrid’ model.