6 Facts about Fakhar Zaman: Pakistan's new kid on the block

En route to the semi-final of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan may have made the target of 237 looks like a herculean task. Batsmen struggled to stay out in the middle while the Sri Lankan pacers kept chipping away at the wickets. Not Fakhar Zaman though, who scored a dashing fifty for Pakistan.

The Green Shirts seemed like they would make light work of the target when Zaman unleashed an onslaught up front. He bludgeoned the ball to all parts of the park. Zaman scored a 36-ball 50 which included 8 fours and a six. The Pakistan dressing room was at ease while the 27-year old was in control of the chase.

By the look of his sparkling half-century, in his maiden ODI for that matter, Fakhar seems to have made a lasting impact in Pakistan’s otherwise ordinary batting line-up. The side has recently experimented heavily with their opening combinations, but with Zaman’s encouraging start and Azhar Ali’s mastery, Pakistan may just be looking at a promising new opening duo.

Here are some interesting facts about Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan’s new kid on the block:

1. Common thread with Younis Khan

He hails from in Mardan, where the standard of batsmanship will forever be measured by arguably Pakistan’s most accomplished Test batsman Younis Khan.

2. Toiling for 5 years, yet unnoticed

Zaman has been plying his skills in Pakistan’s thankless domestic circuit for over five years, without having received any attention.

3. A sweet timer of the ball

The left-handed opener bats with an unusually high backlift, but he relies on pure timing for scoring his runs.

4. 40+ average in domestic cricket

His hunger for runs is illustrated by his excellent domestic average, which stands at 42 in first-class cricket and 49 in List A.

5. A turnaround in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy in 2016-17

Fakhar shot to fame within Pakistan during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in 2016-17. His brilliant form was noticed thanks to his 663 runs in the competition at an average of 51. The lucrative season included a 170 in the second innings of the final, a game which was dominated by the twin centuries of former Pakistan captain Salman Butt.

6. Stint with the Lahore Qalandars

His prolific form earned him a contract in the PSL with the Lahore Qalandars. In Pakistan’s domestic T20 league as well, Zaman showed his flashes of the class he’d been displaying elsewhere. His best knock was perhaps a 33-ball 56 against Karachi where he destroyed the opposition bowling and looked extremely elegant while doing so.