Pakistan batter and Lahore Qalandars opener Fakhar Zaman has dismissed speculation surrounding his retirement from T20 International cricket, stating that he remains committed to continuing his career in the format.
The 35-year-old confirmed on Monday that while he had briefly considered stepping away from T20Is following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, he has since reversed that decision and intends to continue playing.
“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 said, clarifying his position amid recent speculation.
A key figure for Pakistan national cricket team in the shortest format, Fakhar has featured in 120 T20 Internationals, scoring 2,494 runs at a strike rate of 132.51, including 14 half-centuries.
He has also been a consistent performer in the Pakistan Super League, representing Lahore Qalandars for 11 consecutive seasons. In the league, he has played 99 matches, accumulating 3,018 runs at a strike rate of 141.82, with 24 fifties and two centuries.
Separately, Fakhar recently faced disciplinary proceedings during PSL 11 after being charged with a Level 3 offence under the Code of Conduct for allegedly altering the condition of the ball during a match against Karachi Kings on March 29.
Following a hearing conducted by match referee Roshan Mahnama, Fakhar was handed a two-match suspension. Although he denied the allegations and requested a full review under the PSL Code of Conduct, his appeal was rejected.
A technical committee reviewing the case later upheld the suspension after examining the evidence and hearing submissions from relevant parties, confirming the disciplinary action.