Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq is set to join the national squad in Dubai on Friday ahead of the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against arch-rivals India, scheduled on 23 February.
The left-hander, who was called up as a replacement for injured opener Fakhar Zaman, will reach Dubai today after being released by his domestic side, PTV, from the ongoing President’s Trophy.
Fakhar was ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 after he sustained an injury, which was later confirmed as an oblique tear, during Pakistan’s group-stage clash against New Zealand in Karachi on 19 February.
The injury occurred in the very first over of New Zealand’s innings when Fakhar fell awkwardly while fielding, forcing him to leave the ground for medical assessment.
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Though he attempted to return to the field after some time, he eventually walked off again, raising serious concerns about his fitness.
Imam-ul-Haq, who recently represented Pakistan Shaheens in the Champions Trophy warm-up match against South Africa, was confirmed on 20 February to replace Fakhar in the squad.
The Southpaw celebrated his call-up in style in style, smashing 158 for PTV against OGDCL on the same day.
“Imam-ul-Haq has been released by PTV and will travel to tomorrow after a brief stay in Lahore,” a source said. “He will be available for selection for the match against India.”
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Imam played his last of 72 ODIs against South Africa during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. He has scored 3,138 runs at an impressive average of 48.27, featuring nine centuries and 20 half-centuries.
Meanwhile, his last international match was the Boxing Day Test against Australia in December 2023 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The defending champions and hosts Pakistan began their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a 60-run loss against New Zealand.
They will now travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. Pakistan will then return home to face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.
Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
WATCH: Fakhar Zaman in tears after painful exit following injury