Fakhar Zaman, born in Katlang, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, began his cricketing journey after moving to Karachi at the age of 16, where he initially joined the Pakistan Navy. A year later, he shifted his focus to cricket, eventually making his first-class debut for Karachi Blues in 2013. A naturally aggressive left-handed opener and a part-time slow left-arm bowler, Fakhar’s game is well-suited to the limited-overs formats. He rose to prominence during the 2016 Pakistan Cup, scoring 297 runs in five matches, including two half-centuries and a century. His match-winning 115 in the final led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the title and cemented his reputation as a powerful top-order batsman. Consistent performances at the domestic level earned him a place in the Lahore Qalandars squad for PSL 2017 and later, a spot in Pakistan’s squad for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. Fakhar made his international debut during the tournament and played a pivotal role in Pakistan's title win, scoring 252 runs in four games, including a memorable century in the final against India. Though his career has seen periods of inconsistency, Fakhar remains a match-winner capable of dismantling top bowling attacks. His explosive batting style makes him a valuable asset in T20Is and ODIs alike. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Fakhar was initially left out of the playing XI but made a strong comeback late in the tournament, earning consecutive Player of the Match awards against Bangladesh and New Zealand. While he was overlooked in ODIs following the World Cup, his performances earned him a recall for the 2025 Champions Trophy squad.
