Cricket

“300 will be a good score in ODI series”, says Fakhar Zaman

By our correspondent

LAHORE: Pakistan’s hard-hitting top order batsman Fakhar Zaman on Monday said that around 300 score will be good in the forthcoming ODI series against Australia which will begin here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday (today).

“I think 290 and 300 score will be good here as the wickets which we have seen so far look good for batting,” Fakhar told a virtual news conference on Monday. He said that dew will be there but it will be not that much as weather is getting hot and he does not think it will affect a team which will bowl second.

Australia seems to be a depleted side as a handful of their top players are not part of the campaign and mostly new comers will be put to a test against Pakistan.

“No doubt Australia’s top players are not playing but their remaining lot is also looking good, having played in different leagues and we cannot take them light,” Fakhar said.

“Yes, lack of big names will have some difference and we will exploit our home conditions and will try to gain all the points by winning the series,’ Fakhar said. The series is part of the ICC One-day World Cup Super League.

Fakhar said that Babar Azam has told them that they will go for winning all the three matches.

“When we met yesterday in our first meeting Babar told us that Test series has now passed and they will now completely focus on ODI series and being hosts they will try to win all the three matches,” Fakhar revealed.

Fakhar aims a solid contribution in Pakistan’s campaign during the white-ball series. “I am in form in the white-ball cricket and runs are coming and I will try to play a role in my team’s cause. I will prefer to act as per advice and plan of my coach and captain by setting aside my individual targets. Yes, our plan is that of our top three batsmen including me, Babar and Imam, one should go deep until 40 overs and if it were me then I will try to go for a major knock,” said Fakhar, who topped PSL batting chart this season for the eventual winners Lahore Qalandars.

Fakhar said that it would not be a big issue for Pakistan’s Test players to adjust in ODI.

“We have made top preparations and in Pakistan’s Cup the conditions were very tough. You know ODI cricket is a mixture of Test and T20 and sometimes you have to play like a Test and sometimes you have to play like a T20. I think all our squad members, who played a Test series recently against Australia, will not face any such problems while switching over from Test to ODI format,” Fakhar said.