Sarfaraz Ahmed: “Fakhar Zaman has consistently been a match-winner and has performed very well for Pakistan”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said big-hitting batsman Fakhar Zaman has “consistently been a match-winner”.
During Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore, he only scored one run in the one match he played.
Zaman did a lot better during the tour of Bangladesh as he scored 52 runs in two T20Is at an average of 26 and a strike-rate of 123.80.
The men in green then toured the West Indies and Zaman made 48 runs in two T20Is at an average of 24 and a strike-rate of 111.62.
As for the T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan, the 35-year-old from Mardan performed brilliantly, accumulating 155 runs, which included a top score of 77 not out, at an average of 38.75 and a strike-rate of 138.39.
“Fakhar Zaman has consistently been a match-winner and has performed very well for Pakistan,” Sarfaraz was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Pakistan are now taking part in the 2025 Asia Cup, which is being played in the UAE.
In four games, Zaman has scored 105 runs, which includes a top score of 50, at an average of 35 and a strike-rate of 138.15.
The men in green won two games – against Oman and the UAE – and lost one – against India – in the group stage.
They made it through to the Super Four stage, where they lost to India again by six wickets.
Next up for Pakistan will be a clash against Sri Lanka on September 23 in Abu Dhabi.
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