Talent Spotter: Fakhar Zaman

SOSami

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Fakhar Zaman is a 23 year-old left-handed opening batsman who has made his first-class debut this season. Representing the Karachi Blues he has been in good form since making his debut, averaging 53, including one century and six fifties from seven first-class matches.

Speaking with PakPassion.net, Zaman spoke of how he got into cricket, the importance of the Pakistani Navy in providing him with the opportunity to play professional cricket, and his hopes for the future.

Born:
April 10, 1990, Mardan, North-West Frontier Province
Current age: 23 years
Major teams: Karachi Blues, Karachi Zebras, Pakistan Navy
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Slow left-arm orthodox


Getting into Cricket

I was born in Mardan District and played local tennis ball cricket and then hard-ball cricket at school. When I became a little older, I joined the Pakistan Navy at sixteen years of age in Karachi. It was here that I started taking cricket more seriously with a view to playing professionally.

My first proper introduction to a more professional approach to my cricket was through both the coach of the Pakistan Navy cricket team and coach Nadim Khan. He saw me play and told me I should join the team. He got me a discharge from the main Navy and re-enrolled me as a Navy cricketer.

It was that point - breaking into the Navy Cricket team - which gave me the platform from which I could develop as a cricketer.


Early Cricket

From the Navy team, I went on to play district Karachi Under-19 cricket. I had some good performances there and was subsequently selected for the Regional Under-19s. I broke into the Karachi Regional team after I was asked to participate in some practice matches and in those five matches I managed to score 70s and 80s.

I also played some matches for Mardan in 2010 in the Inter-District Senior Tournament. It was nice to play for the area in which I was born and to contribute to them by scoring runs.


First First-Class season for Karachi Blues

I never thought that there could ever be the opportunities offered like those I found in Karachi. The coaches, the support staff, captain Khurram Manzoor, who was captain when Faisal Iqbal was selected for the Pakistan national side’s tour of South Africa. I have loved being involved with the Karachi side and as a young player, have found there to be a lot of support.

I have been in very good form with the bat this season. I prepared very hard before the start of the season with my coach Nadim Khan. He would conduct three-day sessions with me with the bowling machine and that high level of detailed preparation and hard work is the primary driver behind my success this season.


On his batting style

I am an attacking batsman, which you will note from my scores which are usually at a good strike rate. I enjoy playing my shots and picking the right balls from which to score runs. Shot selection is very important for attacking batsmen and I work hard on this, particularly as I open the innings and have to face the new ball. This is the position I have played most of my career and where I have been playing for Karachi in the games I’ve played this season.


Cricketing Hero

My favourite player is Adam Gilchrist. The timing and placement of his shots, his attacking intent and ability to counter-attack under pressure was outstanding. He also enjoyed facing pace bowlers, as do I. I don’t have any interest in wicket-keeping though!

I’m also a fan of AB de Villiers. He always looks to keep the scoreboard moving and times the ball wonderfully.


Favourite Ground

Multan. I made my first-class debut there, scoring 79 and 83 in the match. Scoring over 150 runs in my first game gave me a lot of confidence and belief that I can succeed.


Bowling

I’m also a part-time spinner and it is a part of my game I will continue to develop. I haven’t bowled many overs in the seven first-class matches I have played this season.


Toughest bowler faced

Junaid Khan is the most difficult bowler I’ve faced. He is accurate and can move the ball. As an opening batsman, he has provided my sternest Test against the new ball and in all the other spells he has bowled to me.


The Future

My aims are to continue to work on my batting, to improve and experience success in domestic cricket, and of course play international cricket opening the batting for Pakistan. Playing for the national side is the dream of every player who plays cricket in Pakistan and InshAllah I will achieve this.
 
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Certainly a very good start to his career, lets hope he continues this form.

Only averages 32 in one dayers, but a healthy strike rate
 
I saw him playing 3 shots.

And those 3 shots were enough to impress me. Reason was this that Fakhar made the shots on good balls and placed them according to his wish. This is a rare ability.

Karachi people also speak very high of Fakhar Zaman. You could imagine it that Khalid Latif made a spot free for him in the last twenty20 Cup.
 
I've heard good things about Fakhar.

Some of his team mates have said that he is a batsman with a lot of time to play his shots which is always a good sign.

Let's see how he develops.
 
Good luck to him. An aggressive player that can handle Test cricket could be very handy - and nothing wrong with having Gilchrist as a role model!
 
I Am really impressed by his determination and also curious to see Pakistan Navy mentioned in there - wonder how many others have come through that route?
 
Best of luck to Fakhar for the future.
 
He did make a bit of a case for himself. Imagine a rotation policy in Pak LOL- Sharjeel/Jamshed/Fakhar/Sami with Ahmed/Babar
 
T20 matches outside WC's should be used as a nursery to discover talent. He should,along with others be given a chance to play this format to see if they have the temperament to play at the higher level.
 
T20 matches outside WC's should be used as a nursery to discover talent. He should,along with others be given a chance to play this format to see if they have the temperament to play at the higher level.
lol are you sure? I swear T20s are known for being a sloggers party :afridi
 
Wow, belongs to the city of Younus Khan :D
Increased his List A average from 32 to 46 in just one year! That too at a strike rate of 101.

Good FC stats as well, averaging 43 at 62 SR. But but he hasn't played this cricket at departmental level, all are regional so not sure about the quality. Only those who have seen him play can tell.


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He plays regional cricket, so can't really judge his ability just yet.

Usman Salahuddin was scoring heavily in regional cricket and averaged close to 50 but once he was selected to play for a departmental team, he hasn't done anything of significance.

Also, Awais Zia scores a lot in regional cricket too. :)
 
Opening post has more information on Fakhar.
 
He's only played 11 List A matches first, I'd say wait till he plays at least 20-30. Remember Azeem Ghumman, Shahrayar Ghani, etc? How we all wanted them in the team as soon as possible?
 
He's only played 11 List A matches first, I'd say wait till he plays at least 20-30. Remember Azeem Ghumman, Shahrayar Ghani, etc? How we all wanted them in the team as soon as possible?

Ditto.
 
He should be in a team just for his name. Just imagine what they'd have on the big screen if he plays a ramp shot. Cheeky Fakhar! :misbah
 
Faak-hair Zaymin. Is how they'll probably announce it as.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
 
180* for Fakhar playing for HBL against FATA in the QEA trophy.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A young batsman who the Pakistan cricket selectors need to keep an eye on is Fakhar Zaman. So far in the One Day Cup:
120* 78 & 90
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/687704820313133056">January 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A young batsman who the Pakistan cricket selectors need to keep an eye on is Fakhar Zaman. So far in the One Day Cup:
120* 78 & 90
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/687704820313133056">January 14, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

If he replicates this in the A tour vs England Lions then the 2nd opener spot in ODIs is as good as his.
 
He is batting at number 3 for Hbl. Him and Asif Zakir need to bat as openers which are there primary batting positions.

We need an opener and only opener amongst the runs is Salman Butt.

Imran farhat's Pakistan career is over so he should bat at 3 or 4 and let fakhar open for hbl. Also Asif Zakir should open with awais zia for SSGC.
 
He is batting at number 3 for Hbl. Him and Asif Zakir need to bat as openers which are there primary batting positions.

We need an opener and only opener amongst the runs is Salman Butt.

Imran farhat's Pakistan career is over so he should bat at 3 or 4 and let fakhar open for hbl. Also Asif Zakir should open with awais zia for SSGC.

Every promising opener is running away from the opener slot these days in domestics. Babar Azam, Umar Amin and now Fakhar. Ironically, they have performed better in their non opener slots lol immediately after dropping down the order. I don't like it personally.

But with Fakhar it will still work. Hafeez will be promoted to opener, and he'll play at 3. Though personally I want him to open with Azhar. Would be nice to have an accumulator-aggressor opening combo.

When's the A tour vs England Lions?

Not sure, I think in March or April, prob after PSL.
 
He is batting at number 3 for Hbl. Him and Asif Zakir need to bat as openers which are there primary batting positions.

We need an opener and only opener amongst the runs is Salman Butt.

Imran farhat's Pakistan career is over so he should bat at 3 or 4 and let fakhar open for hbl. Also Asif Zakir should open with awais zia for SSGC.

I doubt Imran Farhat will move down the order. He'll play the seniority card.
 
welldone talentspotter and fakhar zaman..ur debut was delayed for 2 years at least..
 
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