Zaman discusses his no-ball dismissal

Champions Trophy final hero reveals he was crushed when he thought he had been dismissed

KARACHI: Fakhar Zaman has had quite the meteoric rise. From being decidedly second choice going into the tournament to emerging from it as a national hero after a match-winning century in the final against arch-rivals India of all teams, Zaman has seen his star rise from virtual unknown to household name and national hero.

It could have all been so different, though, had Jasprit Bumrah not overstepped when he had Zaman caught behind off a no-ball, with the left-hander having made only three runs at the time.

“I had many plans in my mind for the final against India. I went out with the mindset that I will be doing my best in this match and will help Pakistan win the match,” he said. “A Pakistan-India game is a stage where if you do well, you’ll be hero.”

And Zaman knew he needed to deliver on the biggest stage of them all. “I was playing my first match against India so I had to do more than the others, and my consistent performances before that game meant the team was relying on me.”

For a few seconds, all that was replaced with despair as he nicked the ball into the welcoming hands of MS Dhoni. “When I was caught behind, my heart sank,” he said. “I was stunned and slowly started making my way back to the dressing room with all my hopes and dreams crushed. I kept thinking how could I lose my wicket here, I was supposed to score big, not get out on three.”

Fate, though, was on Zaman’s side.  “When the umpires stopped me, it was like a new hope,” he said. “It felt like a new life. I thought to myself if this is a no ball then today is surely my day.”

It was a no ball, and it was Zaman’s day. But Zaman gave India no chance after that reprieve.

“I knew I had more responsibility on my shoulders after being given another chance to guide my nation to a much-needed victory,” he added.

Zaman’s feeling of despair soon became India’s feeling of despair and by the time the Mardan-born was dismissed for 114 off 106 balls, the game was well and truly in Pakistan’s hands.

“I just went hard after their bowlers like I do in domestic and club cricket,” he said. “I was given a lot of confidence by my teammates, especially by skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, veteran Shoaib Malik and opening partner Azhar Ali.”

Righting previous wrongs

Zaman admitted that, while it doesn’t get bigger than a Pakistan-India game, the Men in Green were doubly determined to make amends for their crushing defeat at India’s hands in the opening game of the tournament.

“We had that first game in mind and wanted to avenge that defeat with our performance,” he said.

However, he insisted there was no animosity between the players. “On the day we played good cricket and we didn’t consider them as our enemies but instead the best team to play your best cricket against,” he said. “India’s players also played cricket with great spirit and I hope the match helps develop goodwill between the two nations.”
Zaman has vowed he will continue to live up to the expectations that have now been placed upon his shoulders. “I will be training doubly hard now in order to improve my skill and fitness levels in order to win more titles for Pakistan.”