Fakhar Zaman becomes first Pakistan batsman to score double century
Bulawayo,july 20: Fakhar Zaman continued his dream run in the ongoing series against Zimbabwe as he became the first Pakistan batsman to hit a double century in ODIs.
In the process, Fakhar and Imam-ul-Haq (113) blazed away to the record opening stand in ODIs as the visitors dominated the proceedings in the fourth ODI at Bulawayo.
Having already pocketed the series, Pakistan showed no signs of slowing down as Zaman and Imam smashed the hosts bowlers all around the park and went past the 286-run mark set by Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jaysuriya and Upul Tharanga against England in 2006.
While Imam scored his third century in eight ODIs, Zaman surpassed Saeed Anwar’s previous record for Pakistan of 194.
Overall, Zaman became the sixth cricketer to smack an ODI double century.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and decided to bat. The visitors have dominated the series, bowling Zimbabwe out for 67 on Wednesday to securing an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the series. Pakistan had the opportunity to experiment with their playing XI, but opted to go unchanged.
There were two changes for the Zimbabweans, with Chamu Chibhabha and Prince Masvaure coming in for seamer Donald Tiripano and top order batsman Tinashe Kamunhukamwe.
LIST:
Rohit Sharma 264, 209, 208*
Martin Guptill 237*
Virender Sehwag 219*
Chris Gayle 219
Sachin Tendulkar 200*
Fakhar Zaman 207*
Courtesy: www.hindustantimes.com
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Talks about split coaching surprising, important for people to stay in their domain: Gambhir
Visakhapatnam (PTI): India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Saturday came down heavily on theories doing the rounds on social media about split coaching, terming them "surprising" and asked those opinion-makers to stay "in their domain."
After India’s recent 0-2 Test series defeat against South Africa, some influential cricketing names, including an IPL team owner, asked the BCCI to consider appointing separate coaches for red-ball and white ball formats.
"Look, there were a lot of talks because the results didn't go in our favour (in Test series). But the most surprising thing is that not once did any media or journalist wrote that our first Test match (in Kolkata) was played without the captain (Shubman Gill), who didn't bat in both innings (because of a neck injury)," Gambhir said during the post-match press meet after India clinched the ODI series against SA 2-1.
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Gambhir said such opinion makers should refrain from making remarks that have no direct connection with on-field cricketing matters.
“Some people also said things that have nothing to do with cricket. An IPL team owner (Parth Jindal of Delhi Capitals on X) also wrote about split coaching.
“So this is surprising. It's very important for people to stay in their domain. Because if we don't go into someone's domain, then they also don't have the right to come into our domain,” Gambhir added.
Gambhir had also stated his achievements as the red-ball coach in the post-match press conference at Guwahati in what looked like a self-defence mechanism after a series defeat at home.
“I don't give excuses in press conferences. It doesn't mean that you don't show the facts in front of the world or the country. When you go through a transition and when you lose your captain, who is also your main batter in red-ball cricket against such a team (SA).
"Then obviously the results are difficult because you don't have that much experience in red ball cricket. And the surprising thing is that no one even talked about it. All the discussions about wickets, I don't know what all things were said," he noted.
