Pakistan regains lost glory in world cricket with Champions Trophy triumph: Fakhar
MARDAN, 24 June: The opening batsman who got fame from his sensational century to lead Pakistan to victory in ICC Champions Trophy final against archrivals India, Fakhar Zaman said that the historic win against India has helped Pakistan to regain their lost glory in the world cricket.
Fakhar Zaman who belongs to Katlang village of Mardan was talking to TNN about his brilliant performance in the Champions Trophy. He also talked about his cricketing career and his past.
When asked about how he made his way to the national cricket team, Fakhar said that he started his cricket career from Karachi adding that he was selected into national team on pure merit, as he had no reference or approach in PCB.
“God knows I am selected into the national team without any reference,” he maintained. “I join Pakistan Navy at the age of 17-year where I also start cricket along with my job,” Fakhar recounted.
He said that when the Navy coach observed his cricketing skills, the coach advised him to focus on your cricket. “With the support of my Navy coach I reached the first-class cricket and took retirement from Navy,” he added.
Fakhar said that he believed in hard work adding that he made it to the national cricket team with his hard work.
To a question, Fakhar said that his debut against top-ranked South Africa was a memorable movement for him.
Fakhar said in the start three overs of the Champions Trophy final he was shaky, as the pitch did not suit his natural game of hard hitting. “Then I decide to stay for eight overs and after that, I will resume my natural game which works well for me,” he added.
When asked about his expression about the renaming of Katlang Chongi Chowk after his name, Fakhar Zaman said that, as he was busy with well-wishers who visit him for congratulations, so he is not aware of any such announcements. However, he thanked the Mardan district government for extending him tributes.
Fakhar said he was still taking it all in after he top-scored with 106 off 114 balls to lead Pakistan to a shock victory over arch-rivals India in the final, after making his ODI debut earlier in the tournament.
