Fakhar Zaman ruled out of Bangladesh ODI series with hamstring injury

2026-03-04 - 06:34

LAHORE – Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) series against Bangladesh after suffering a hamstring injury, team sources confirmed on Wednesday. Fakhar sustained the injury during his aggressive knock against Sri Lanka in the ICC T20 World Cup. The left-handed batter will now undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in a bid to regain full fitness. Pakistan are scheduled to tour Bangladesh this month for a three-match ODI series. The national team will arrive in Dhaka on March 9 and hold a training session on March 10. The first ODI will be played on March 11, followed by the second on March 13 and the third on March 15. All matches will take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. This will mark Pakistan’s second tour of Bangladesh since July 2025. During their previous visit, Bangladesh clinched the T20I series. Earlier, in May/June 2025, Bangladesh toured Pakistan, where the hosts, under the captaincy of Salman Ali Agha, secured a 3-0 victory in the T20I series. Meanwhile, the sources indicate that the selectors are considering changes to the ODI squad, with a focus on inducting young players to strengthen the combination. Underperformers in the T20 format may be dropped, and emerging players could be given opportunities in place of Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Nawaz. Despite the concerns over regional tensions, sources said the tour is expected to proceed as scheduled, provided there is no escalation in security or travel risks.