Fakhar Zaman: “In my opinion, the Australian bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are really skillful. Pat Cummins does so many variations that it’s difficult to play him, so I enjoy playing them”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan big-hitting batsman Fakhar Zaman has chosen the Australian pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins as the toughest bowlers he has faced.
Both of them are capable of bowling over 140 kph, but Zaman pointed out that their skill set is what makes them do dangerous.
The 35-year-old particularly noted that Cummins possesses “so many variations”, which makes it “difficult to play him”.
Nonetheless, the Mardan native enjoys putting his skills to the test against both Starc and Cummins.
“In my opinion, the Australian bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are really skillful. Pat Cummins does so many variations that it’s difficult to play him, so I enjoy playing them,” he was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Zaman recently represented the Lahore Qalandars in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and was the second-highest run-scorer with 439 runs in 13 matches, which included four fifties, at an average of 33.76 and a strike-rate of 152.96.
He then featured in Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore, but only scored one run in the one match he played.
The men in green then travelled to Bangladesh to play three T20Is and Zaman struck 52 runs in two games at an average of 26 and a strike-rate of 123.80.
As for the limited overs tour of the West Indies, he began with 48 runs in two T20Is at an average of 24 and a strike-rate of 111.62.
In the three-match ODI series that followed, Zaman was not included in the playing XI for any of the games.
After their tour of the West Indies, Pakistan took on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in a T20I tri-series in Sharjah, which they won.
In five matches, Zaman made 155 runs, which included a top score of 77 not out, at an average of 38.75 and a strike-rate of 138.39.
The men in green are now playing in the 2025 Asia Cup, which is being held in the UAE.
In the first two games, Zaman has accumulated 40 runs at an average of 40 and a strike-rate of 129.03.
After beating Oman and losing to India, Pakistan’s next match will be against the UAE on September 17 in Dubai.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
[TS_Poll id=”65″]