Mickey Arthur asked me to score a double ton, says Fakhar Zaman

Team Pakistan registered yet another emphatic win over the hapless Zimbabwean side in their recent ODI fixture. They went on to register their highest ODI score in the game as well. While their victory was a predictable one, the man who made the news headlines on the day was Fakhar Zaman. The hard-hitting southpaw went on to become the first Pakistani batsman to score an ODI double ton.

Fakhar Zaman Zaman blasted an unbeaten 210 off just 156 deliveries with 24 fours and 5 sixes. En route his innings, he stitched a 300-run stand with Imam ul Haq – the highest ever opening wicket partnership. After the game, Fakhar remarked that he felt it was his day. He also credited Imam for his support in the innnings.

“I think today was my day. Imam played really well in the start and he supported me well,” Fakhar Zaman quoted after the game.

On Mickey Arthur’s advice before the game

Commenting further on the same note, Fakhar Zaman revealed that the head coach, Mickey Arthur, had asked him to score an ODI double ton before the game. In fact, he had said the same in the previous game as well. By scoring 210, Fakhar broke the record for highest individual score by a Pakistani cricketer. He surpassed the long standing record of Saeed Anwar who had scored 194 against India a couple of decades ago.

Fakhar remarked that he knew about Saeed Anwar’s record and had it in his mind as well. He cheekily added that he will not let the middle order batsmen get a chance in the next game either.

“I knew about Saeed’s record. Mickey [Arthur] told us before toss that if we win toss we are going to bat and he asked me to score a double ton. He was telling me the same thing two days before as well,” the southpaw revealed. “I’ll try not to give them (middle-order batsmen) the chance in the next game,” he cheekily added further.

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