Friday, March 29, 2024

Fakhar Zaman Deserves to Be Recognized as Pakistan’s Greatest-Ever Opener

Without knowing anything else about two batsman, it is safe to conclude that a left-hander will be more attractive than a right-hander who is similarly talented. We did not make those regulations; they exist.

Unlike the other left-handers, Fakhar Zaman is unique. He is not the most fashionable left-handed opening batsman in his own team, and he lacks the innate flare that left-handers typically have in spades. Fakhar, though, is also unlike any other batsman.

Since over two decades ago, Saeed Anwar’s admirers in Pakistan have been yearning for his grace and effectiveness, wistfully stroking the framed portraits of Anwar they display on their mantles.

Anwar had a healthy second helping of elegance and flair on top of everything else that grace and flair are exclusively designated for left-handers. They simply struck differently because to the baggy light green jersey, the mocking flicks off his pads, and the smooth arc of the bat on the cover drive.

Pakistani fans, however, have never completely given Fakhar his roses in their quest for Anwar’s second coming. To those who grew up watching and idolising Anwar in the 1990s, Fakhar may seem inconceivable, yet he is the best opening batsman Pakistan has ever produced. even superior to the great Anwar. The stats clearly demonstrate this.

With his unbeaten 180 as Pakistan defeated New Zealand by chasing down 337, Fakhar once more proved that. It was the second-highest successful chase Pakistan had ever experienced, the second-highest total New Zealand had failed to defend, and the highest successful chase in Rawalpindi history. With more than half of Pakistan’s runs coming from him, Fakhar made it look easy.

Fakhar demonstrated a degree of adaptability throughout the chase that he is rarely given credit for. He changed gears at will. Many people think of him as a straightforward bludgeoner, but bludgeoners don’t frequently play the epic innings that Fakhar has proven himself capable of.

Three of Pakistan’s four highest-ever ODI scores have been made by the Mardan-born player, who has 10 centuries in just 67 games. In those three innings, which included an unbroken 210, an unbeaten 180 on Saturday, and a valiant 193 against South Africa in which he was controversially run-out, no bowler was able to get rid of him. It is really difficult to get Fakhar out once he enters.

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