Pakistan’s batting sensation Fakhar Zaman smacked another blistering half-century in his only second Test innings to help Pakistan to take a mammoth lead in the second innings of the second and final Test against Australia on Thursday (October 18).
In his first Test innings, the 28-year-old scored brilliant 94 off 198 balls and 66 off 83 deliveries in the second innings, which were good scores for any debutante, but Zaman is not much pleased with his effort with the willow at Abu Dhabi. However, he is pleased with his contribution in the team’s cause, as the Men in Green are currently leading by 493 runs with 5 wickets at their hands against Australia
However, the left-hander, who is one of the most talented white-ball specialists in the world at the moment, could not play his natural game at Abu Dhabi, saying he just “tried to score runs his way.”
He told reporters, “You are not satisfied no matter how many runs you score – I wanted to get a hundred in the first innings. I was trying to play my natural game but the situation demanded a different approach. Our position, as a team, was better in the second innings. So, I tried to score runs my way.”
Zaman further explained, “I got support from him (Sarfraz Ahmed, the captain, who also scored 94) in the first innings. My approach was that I have to stay at the wicket for a couple of sessions, to keep wickets in hand, even if I don't score runs. But he scored runs and it pushed the fielders back which allowed us easy ones and twos. All credit goes to him.”
Meanwhile, the star batsman has also revealed that his poor outing in the Asia Cup 2018 had left him desperate to get back in form with the bat, crediting coach Mickey Arthur for his success, saying his decision to keep him with the Test squad helped him to return to form.
Zaman signed off by saying, “I was unlucky and I played some questionable shots in the Asia Cup. I was in form. I was middling the ball in the nets. I should've taken my time as the pitches demanded. I wanted to play cricket … I asked Mickey if I should go back to domestic cricket or play in the 'A' side. But he kept me in the (Test) side. Credit goes to him. Before the UK tour, he told me that I won't be getting any matches, but he wanted me to prepare for Test cricket.”
(Input: International Cricket Council)
