Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman en path to scoring 81 versus Bangladesh. (Photo: AP)
Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman made a marvelous resurgence to the side after being benched for 5 matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Zaman opened the innings with Imam-ul-Haq in Pakistan’s opening video game versus the Netherlands however was dropped due to bad kind for the next 5 matches before rebounding at the cost of Imam for the clash versus Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday.
In a ‘do-or-die’ clash for Pakistan, Zaman blasted 81 off 74 balls with 7 towering 6s and 3 fours as Babar Azam’s side ferreted out 205 to win in simply 32.3 overs to break series of 4 succeeding losses on the planet Cup. The veteran Pakistan opener spent some time to get settled, taking 11 balls to score 3 runs before breaking totally free in the 5th over of the chase bowled by Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed.
Zaman smashed Taskin Ahmed for a huge 99m 6 over mid-wicket in the 5th over of the innings to start. The video of Fakhar Zaman’s enormous 6 quickly went viral over social networks.
View Fakhar Zaman smash a 99m 6 off Taskin Ahmed HERE …
Fakhar Zaman had adequate time to score a 11th ODI century and end up being the 2nd Pakistani batter after Nasir Jamshed to score a century at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata however selected to bet the interests of the group as Pakistan wished to increase their net run-rate in the chase.
“The scenario we remain in at the minute, so we were aiming to chase it like in 28, 29 overs, so that’s why I was simply going. Otherwise, it was really simple for me to get to the 100 after 50, however our objective was to attain the target within like 30 or 29 overs,” Fakhar Zaman stated in the post-match interview in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Pakistan might have risen to 5th put on the Points Table with 6 points from 7 matches however they still require a great deal of outcomes to go their method if they wish to reach the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinal phase. Zaman stated the group was aiming to win both the staying matches with huge margins so that they can stay in contention for the semifinal phase.
“In the World Cup, each win offers you self-confidence and we were awaiting this win. We are on the ifs and buts today– however we will attempt to win both the matches with great run rates. Our target is the semi-final and we will pursue that,” Zaman stated.