Fakhar Zaman: 'Champions Trophy final century gave me so much' but is not even in my top five

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Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman is a player for the big stage. For close to a decade, the left-handed batter has risen to the challenge in high stakes matches and come out on the winning…

Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman is a player for the big stage. For close to a decade, the left-handed batter has risen to the challenge in high stakes matches and come out on the winning side more often than not.

It all started with the 2017 ODI Champions Trophy final against India in England. India were the overwhelming favourites and Fakhar had not given any indication of what he was truly capable of; it was just his fourth ODI. When he edged Jasprit Bumrah behind at the start of the match, it seemed India were about to run away with the title.

But fate had other plans. It turned out Bumrah had bowled a no-ball. Fakhar got a reprieve, smashed 114, helped Pakistan post a massive 338 and set the stage for a crushing 180-run win over Virat Kohli’s India.

It remains the most significant win for Pakistan over India at the world stage.

Since then, the left-handed batter has made it a habit of saving his best for the most important matches. He scored an unbeaten fifty in the 2021 T20 World Cup semi-final against Australia, hit a blazing 126 not out with the help of 11 sixes against New Zealand at the 2023 ODI World Cup while chasing 402, and scored a title winning ton recently in the ODI tri-series final against Sri Lanka at home.

Last month, Fakhar hit 127 from 99 balls as Pakistan chased down a target of 326 against the islanders in the title match in Lahore, having been reduced to 14-2. The 36-year-old batter, however, does not quite know why he is so good on the big stage.

“I try to play the same in every match. I prepare the same way as well. Luckily, I have better success rate in finals and knockouts. I have no idea what changes,” Fakhar told The National in Abu Dhabi where he is participating in the Abu Dhabi T10 as part of the United Tigers team.

It has been almost 10 years since that fateful innings against India in the Champions Trophy final at The Oval. It is one of the most significant innings played by any Pakistan batter in white-ball history.

“The Champions Trophy…

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