Why Pakistan dropped Fakhar Zaman from T20I squad for South Africa series: Explained
Pakistan head coach revealed that Fakhar Zaman was rested from the T20I squad against South Africa to focus on improving his technique for an ODI comeback.
After a tough loss in the second Test against South Africa, Pakistan are now set to face the hosts in a three-match T20I series, starting Tuesday. A few days before the series, the selectors announced the squad, and one big surprise was the exclusion of Fakhar Zaman from the main team. Instead, the left-handed opener has been named in the reserves, while Babar Azam makes his return to lead the T20I side.
The decision to drop Fakhar has surprised many, as he played well in the Asia Cup 2025, eventually finishing as Pakistan’s second-highest run-scorer after Sahibzada Farhan. Fakhar held significance in the final against India, scoring quickly and ensuring Pakistan batted first at a reasonable total. Despite these good performances, the team management decided to rest him for the South Africa T20Is.
Ahead of the first match, Pakistan’s head coach explained the reason behind the decision. “We’ve had a conversation with Fakhar Zaman. He wants to make a comeback in ODIs, so we’ve given him a break from T20Is to work on his technique,” he said. The coach added that this decision was made with Fakhar’s long-term career in mind, giving him time to focus on improving his batting for the 50-over format.
Fakhar Zaman Focused on ODI Comeback
Since the 2023 World Cup, where Fakhar was Pakistan’s top performer, the opener has struggled with injuries and minor disciplinary issues. He has missed several matches due to fitness problems and was also warned by the PCB for comments supporting Babar Azam during a previous controversy.
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Fakhar last played an ODI during the opening game of the Champions Trophy before getting injured again. Now at 35, he wants to focus on his ODI career and return stronger. Taking a short break from T20Is will allow him to work on his form, fitness, and technique as he looks to make a strong comeback to Pakistan’s ODI squad.
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