Fakhar Zaman likely to be fit in time for Asia Cup 2025

Pakistan’s prolific left-handed batsman Fakhar Zaman is expected to regain full fitness soon and is more likely to be available for the Asia Cup scheduled to begin in the UAE on September 9.

A source close to the player told Nukta that Fakhar's injury is minor.

“He is currently in Dubai on his way back home from the United States and is expected to reach tonight. I spoke to him personally and he told me that it’s a minor injury and it will take him just 10 to 15 days to recover,” the source said.

Fakhar picked up a hamstring injury during the second T20I against the West Indies in Lauderhill, USA. The setback ruled him out of both the third T20I and the upcoming three-match ODI series against the same opposition, which begins this Friday.

Once back home, Fakhar will begin his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore. His return is eagerly awaited, especially given Pakistan’s need for an experienced campaigner like him on the slow, spin-friendly tracks expected in the UAE.

This is not the first time this year that Fakhar has missed a key assignment due to injury. Earlier, he was ruled out of Pakistan’s high-profile match against India in the ICC Championship Trophy after suffering an oblique muscle tear during a game against New Zealand. Imam-ul-Haq replaced him for the remainder of that tournament.

In the recent T20I series against West Indies, Fakhar showed promise with the bat. In the first match, he scored 28 runs off 24 balls while batting at No. 3, before falling to Shamar Joseph. In the second game, he managed 20 off 19 deliveries, including two boundaries, before injuring himself while fielding. He missed the third match, which Pakistan went on to win by 13 runs to clinch the series 2-1.

The Asia Cup will feature eight teams divided into two groups. Group A comprises Pakistan, India, UAE, and Oman, while Group B features Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s campaign begins on September 12 against Oman in Dubai, followed by a much-anticipated clash with India on September 14, and then a final group-stage match against UAE on September 17.

India remains the most successful side in the tournament’s history with eight titles, followed by Sri Lanka with six and Pakistan with two. Since 2016, the Asia Cup has alternated between the ODI and T20I formats. This edition will be played in the T20 format, serving as key preparation for the T20 World Cup scheduled for next year.

Before the Asia Cup begins, Pakistan is also set to participate in a tri-nation T20I series in Sharjah featuring Afghanistan and the UAE, scheduled from August 29 to September 7.