Fakhar Zaman targets 2027 World Cup to end Pakistan's six-year ICC drought

Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan's experienced opening batter, has expressed optimism that the team can end its ICC trophy drought at the 2027 World Cup, to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Speaking to media in Rawalpindi ahead of a tri-series against England and Sri Lanka, the 36-year-old acknowledged the pressure Pakistan faces after failing to win a major international tournament since the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, when he scored a century that helped secure the title.

Zaman emphasized that Pakistan's players have held extensive internal discussions about the nine-year wait for an ICC trophy, noting that reaching finals and semi-finals—including the 2022 T20 World Cup final loss to England—does not provide the same national satisfaction as winning. He highlighted that fans have expressed disappointment over the drought, though strong performances earn public appreciation. The batter stressed that winning a trophy brings a fundamentally different kind of national happiness compared to progressing through tournament stages.

The 2027 World Cup will likely represent the final opportunity for Zaman and his contemporaries—including Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi—to secure a major trophy. Zaman noted that Pakistan's squad combination of four bowlers, six batters, and one all-rounder is suited to South African conditions, and that pitches for the upcoming tri-series have been prepared to replicate expected World Cup playing surfaces. The tri-series, featuring matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore with a final scheduled for October 31, serves as crucial preparation for squad selection and tactical combinations.

Zaman credited Pakistan's bilateral improvements in recent months—pushing the team to sixth in T20I rankings and fifth in ODI rankings—as a foundation for World Cup ambitions. He noted that players arriving at the ODI camp after competing in first-class domestic cricket (the President's Trophy) are in rhythm, making the transition to 50-over cricket more manageable than from T20 formats. Despite Pakistan's recent Test series loss to England, Zaman separated red-ball and white-ball preparations, citing significant recent team changes and hope in the broader World Cup pathway.

Personally, Zaman has accumulated 3,861 runs in 92 ODIs at an average exceeding 45 since his 2017 Champions Trophy heroics. He aims to reach the 4,000-run milestone during Pakistan's scheduled World Cup campaign. The team's approach emphasizes seriousness and commitment, with Zaman stating that Pakistan will "do our best" to bring the trophy home.