Pakistan’s veteran opener Fakhar Zaman has addressed the chatter around his retirement after he was slapped with a two-match ban for ball-tampering in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026. Zaman has dismissed all speculations but revealed that the thought of retirement crossed his mind after Pakistan’s dismal show in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 where he got a chance as opener in the must-win game. Now, he intends to continue playing and retire from T20Is on a high note.
“After the World Cup, I had decided to retire from T20 cricket. However, I no longer intend to retire and want to finish my T20 career on a high note,” Fakhar was quoted as saying by Geo News.
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How Fakhar Zaman performed in T20 World Cup 2026
Zaman played in the middle-order despite Saim Ayub's lack of form as opener. He contributed with a 16-ball 25 cameo against England in the Super 8 encounter. The southpaw was benched for the entire group stage after registering 10-run knocks in the T20I series against Australia at home.
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He opened against Sri Lanka, scoring 84 runs from just 42 balls, sharing a 176-run partnership with Sahibzada Farhan. While his knock ended up in Pakistan's five-run win over Sri Lanka, they lost out on the semifinal spot on the basis of net run rate.
Later, Zaman had registered scores of 53 and 1 against Hyderabad Kings and Karachi Kings in PSL 2026.
When will Fakhar Zaman’s ban end?
Zaman faced a two-match ban for ball-tampering accusations in Lahore Qalandars’ clash against Karachi Kings. The two-match ban is still ongoing. Lahore Qalandars beat Multan Sultans by 20 runs in a rain-curtailed 13 over per side game on April 3. The 35-year-old was seen in the dugout as a temporary coach. He is likely to continue doing that role when Qalandars go up against Islamabad United at National Stadium, Karachi, on April 9.
Zaman will be available for selection against Peshawar Zalmi on April 11. Currently, Qalandars are placed fourth on the points table with two wins from three games.