Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman has clarified his stance on continuing his T20I career, affirming that he has no immediate retirement plans despite the recent controversy during the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) season. The 35-year-old, currently serving a two-match suspension in the PSL for ball tampering, admitted that he had contemplated stepping away from T20 internationals post the T20 World Cup 2026, but has now reversed that decision.
“I had initially planned to retire from T20 cricket after the World Cup, but I have reconsidered and aim to conclude my T20 career on a positive note,” Fakhar stated in an interview with Geo News.
Fakhar has been a consistent performer for Pakistan in T20Is, amassing 2,494 runs in 120 matches at a strike rate of 132.51, with 14 half-centuries to his name. Despite a limited role in the T20 World Cup, he made a significant impact in the crucial Super 8 encounter against Sri Lanka, scoring a blistering 84 off 42 deliveries with nine boundaries and four maximums. Unfortunately, Pakistan fell short of the required victory margin to secure a semifinal spot, marking their fourth consecutive ICC tournament without reaching the semifinals under captain Salman Ali Agha.
Noteworthy for his contributions to Lahore Qalandars in the PSL, Fakhar has accumulated 3,018 runs in 99 matches at a strike rate of 141.82, including 24 fifties and two centuries.
The recent suspension stemmed from an incident during a match against Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium, where Fakhar was penalized for breaching Level 3 of the PSL Code of Conduct regarding ball tampering. Despite challenging the decision, his appeal was rejected by the PSL Technical Committee, upholding the two-match ban imposed by match referee Roshan Mahanama as confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board.