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Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan’s opening batsman, has won the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Men’s Player of the Month award for April 2023, the cricket governing body said on Tuesday.
After a stellar month in April, the in-form batsman was named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month.
“He [Zaman] defeated tough competition from Sri Lanka spin wizard Prabath Jayasuriya and emerging New Zealand batter Mark Chapman,” according to an ICC press release.
According to the ICC, Fakhar led the charge for Pakistan in their second-highest ODI run chase in Rawalpindi late last month.
The opener hit an unbeaten 180 to help Pakistan chase down a 337-run mark against visiting New Zealand to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
In a high-scoring battle, Pakistan won with 10 balls to spare because of Fakhar’s knock of 17 boundaries and six big sixes.
This was the left-hander’s second century in as many April contests, following his 117 off 114 balls in the first game at the same venue, which helped Pakistan chase down 289.
Fakhar led the run-chase from the start and was only removed in the 43rd over when Pakistan was well on its way to chasing down the winning score. For his heroics, he was named Player of the Match.
The left-hander began the month with a quick 47 against New Zealand in Lahore, contributing to the home team’s 88-run triumph. While he struggled in the next two T20Is, Fakhar returned to form in ODIs, a format in which he has always excelled.
Fakhar now has 3,148 ODI runs at an average of 49.71 and a strike rate of over 95 during his 67-match career, and the Pakistan opener said winning the honor was a huge delight.
‘A true honor’
“Being named ICC Player of the Month for April is an honor,” Fakhar added.
“This month has been one of the highlights of my career, and it was an amazing feeling to play in front of my own people in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi,” he says.
“I really enjoyed scoring back-to-back centuries in Rawalpindi, but my favorite was the 180 not out in the second match,” the hard-hitting batter remarked.
I hope to keep the momentum going as we approach the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and to make Pakistan cricket supporters pleased and proud with my performances.”
