World Cup 2023: Struggling Fakhar Zaman suffers knee injury, out of Australia clash

Pakistan opening batter Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out from their World Cup match against Australia on Friday. He will also be unavailable for selection until next week due to a knee injury, the team management confirmed.

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The 34-year-old left-hander has been dropped from the playing XI after scoring just 12 runs in the opening win against the Netherlands. He was replaced by Abdullah Shafique.

“Zaman is being treated for a knee injury, he is expected to be available for selection next week,” said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Zaman is the only Pakistan batter to have scored a one-day international double hundred.

Elsewhere, middle-order batter Agha Salman became the latest Pakistan player to be deemed unavailable with fever. Salman had yet to play in the World Cup.

Six players missed training on Tuesday for Pakistan, suffering from fever and flu after the team reached Bengaluru.

Pakistan have won two matches – beating the Netherlands and Sri Lanka – at the World Cup but were stopped short in their tracks by hosts India in Ahmedabad on Saturday.