Fakhar Zaman fits at the top of the order, and his hundred on 31 October against Sri Lanka in Lahore is the strongest evidence yet that he still belongs in the side. The left-hander’s 127 sealed a chase of 326, even though he scored just 31 runs in the rest of the tri-series. Pakistan have until October 2027 to find him a partner, and the records of Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat and Saim Ayub suggest the search is far from finished.
A Final-Day Hundred Rescues the Series
Pakistan needed 326 to beat Sri Lanka in the Lahore tri-series final on 31 October, and Fakhar Zaman produced 127 from 99 deliveries to finish the job with three wickets in hand. It was the 12th hundred of his career in the format. The openers had gone cheaply, leaving Pakistan 14-2, yet a third-wicket stand of 149 with Saad Baig turned the innings and equalled the best winning chase ever seen in a one-day final.
Everything else about his tournament was grim. Outside the final, he managed only 31 runs, starting with a golden duck when England visited Rawalpindi on 20 October and continuing with a 13-ball 5 when Sri Lanka met Pakistan in Lahore on 27 October. Afterwards he said it was good to deliver when it matters, a remark that sums up both his appeal and his inconsistency.
Fakhar Zaman ODI World Cup 2027 opener
Zaman arrived at the series with 3,861 runs from 92 appearances, averaging 45.42 and scoring at 93.14 per 100 balls. South Africa have faced him 14 times, and he has taken 630 runs off them at 45.00 with a scoring rate of 100.31. Zimbabwe have seen him six times, with 517 runs including his unbeaten 210. Those figures are split by opponent rather than by ground, but both countries co-host the tournament.
Next to him, the alternatives look slender. Sahibzada Farhan has played six times without a hundred, and Saim Ayub, who has 20 caps and three hundreds, holds the next best record in this group. The row for Zaman predates the tri-series.
Player | ODIs | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Hundreds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fakhar Zaman | 92 | 3,861 | 45.42 | 93.14 | 11 |
Sahibzada Farhan | 6 | 101 | 16.83 | 75.94 | 0 |
Saim Ayub | 20 | 772 | 40.63 | 99.36 | 3 |
Farhan and Sadaqat Chase the Spot
Sahibzada Farhan arrived in international cricket on 11 March 2026. Six games have brought 101 runs, a best of 31 and no fifty, and his place in the party came when Ayub was dropped on 26 October. Those returns do not build a case for the opening job.
Maaz Sadaqat is the more intriguing option. His 75 and three wickets in the second Bangladesh game stood out, and he partnered Zaman at the top on 27 October, though scores of 8 and 5 followed in that game and the final. Opening is where he says he feels most at ease, and former opener Sadiq Mohammad wants Farhan and Maaz kept in the reckoning.
Ayub’s Struggles Leave a Void
Ayub’s three scores in the series were 6, 8 and 7, and he requested a spell in domestic cricket, so the board let him go on 26 October. His career average of 40.63 is respectable, yet recent form has weighed heavily against him.
Sadiq Mohammad was critical, arguing that Ayub had not delivered with the bat in the position where Pakistan needs runs most. He also urged selectors to make changes at the top of the order and settle on a solid opening pair.
Selection Questions Before South Africa
Their first match is in Tshwane, where Afghanistan wait on 8 October 2027, and India follow at Johannesburg two days later. The tournament spans 2 October through 21 November, giving the selectors about a year to settle. The only fixed warm-up is a five-game series in England between 15 and 26 May 2027.
I would pick Zaman and have him open. Nobody else in the pool has a comparable record against South Africa or Zimbabwe, and Farhan’s output is too modest to compete. Choosing his partner is the hard part. Sadiq prefers technically sound batters for African pitches, and Maaz is the strongest of them, so the Fakhar Zaman ODI World Cup 2027 opener question currently has a two-man shortlist.
Should Pakistan open with Fakhar and Maaz in South Africa, or is a rebuilt pairing the safer route? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who will open for Pakistan at the 2027 ODI World Cup?
The openers are still undecided. Zaman and Sadaqat went out together on 27 October, whereas Saim Ayub left the party on 26 October after being released by the board.
Is Fakhar Zaman in Pakistan’s 2027 World Cup plans?
Fakhar Zaman says he is part of the picture. He told reporters in October that the combination for the World Cup looks very good, though no squad has been announced.
How many ODI hundreds has Fakhar Zaman scored?
Fakhar Zaman has scored 12 ODI hundreds. The latest was his 127 against Sri Lanka in the Lahore final on 31 October, when he helped chase down 326.
Where will the 2027 ODI World Cup be played?
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will host the tournament. It runs between 2 October and 21 November 2027, and the final is set for Johannesburg, where Pakistan will also meet India.
Who are Pakistan’s best ODI openers right now?
Fakhar Zaman has the strongest record of any opener in the pool. Maaz Sadaqat, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub are rivals, but none of them has an established ODI record.