Fakhar Zaman opens up about ongoing rehab and rumours of his retirement

Pakistan's opener, Fakhar Zaman, has recently shared his thoughts on his Champions Trophy experience, injury setbacks, and his role in the national team. 

In a recent interview with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), he reflected on his 2017 Champions Trophy triumph and the heartbreak of missing key matches in the latest edition. 

He spoke candidly about his emotions and aspirations. 

"When I got injured, I immediately realized that my Champions Trophy was over. The pain made it clear to me. I had worked hard, recovered from thyroid issues, and trained extensively for this event. So, the emotions got the better of me in the dressing room," he said.

He also recalled his son questioning his visible pain, saying, "My son asked me, 'What was hurting you so much?' Players often play through pain, and I have played with a fracture before, but this situation was different."

Fakhar was asked whether he believed Pakistan could have had a better start if he had opened the innings, to which he replied, "I strongly believe that if I had opened, the situation might have been different. A long chase requires a strong start, and openers play a key role. I even approached the umpire to see if there was any way I could open despite my injury, but the rules didn't allow it."

He revealed that he fielded for 22 overs despite his pain, hoping to contribute with the bat, but unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

Providing an update on his injury, Fakhar shared that his recovery is progressing well. "There has been significant improvement in a week. The doctor has advised that I can start training in three weeks, and within a month, I should be back in action."

When asked if his presence in the Pakistan vs India match could have changed the outcome, Fakhar remained diplomatic. He said, "Cricket is an unpredictable game. Sometimes, expectations are low, and you perform beyond imagination. Other times, the opposite happens. We lost, and I can't say whether my presence would have made a difference. I could have scored 200, but that's just speculation."

Fakhar addressed concerns about his limited presence in Test cricket, clarifying that he had focused on red-ball Cricket, but the coaches didn't consider him a priority. "I still want to play Test cricket, but the captain and coaches have their plans. I also believe there are better Test players in Pakistan."

On Pakistan's struggles with strike rotation and strike rate, he emphasised its importance, particularly in modern-day Cricket. "The game has evolved. If you're chasing 350, you need to play aggressive Cricket. Fast-paced play and taking risks are essential."

Fakhar humorously claimed that he considers himself a better bowler than a batsman. "All bowlers think they're good batsmen. I believe I am a better bowler! Shadab Khan is my favourite bowler in ODIs, and he has even told me that if he ever becomes captain, I'll definitely bowl five overs in ODIs and two in T20s."

Earlier, there were reports that Fakahr is taking retirement from ODI cricket.