Bulawayo: Pakistani opener Fakhar Zaman became the fastest batsman to complete 1,000 runs in ODI cricket during the fifth match against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on Sunday.
Fakhar Zaman took 18 innings to beat the likes of Viv Richards (West Indies), Kevin Pietersen (England), Jonathan Trott (England), Quinton de Kock (South Africa) and compatriot Babar Azam, who all took 21 innings, to reach the top spot in the list. Indian Captain Virat Kohli had taken 24 innings to reach the milestone.
The 28-year-old did also claim the records for most runs in a five-match bilateral series with 515 and most runs scored between dismissals in ODIs, having scored 455 runs since he was last dismissed in the first match of the series. Earlier this week, Zaman smashed 210 not out off 156 deliveries, moving past the previous record of the highest individual score in an ODI innings for a Pakistan batsman set by Saeed Anwar with his 194 against India in Chennai more than 21 years ago, and Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower called his innings “a great achievement”.
The innings also propelled Pakistan to their highest ever ODI total of 399/1, according report from the International Cricket Council (ICC) website.
In the process, Fakhar also eclipsed former Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar’s 194 against India in the Independence Cup at Chennai in May 1997.
Fakhar shared a record opening stand of 304 with fellow left-hander Imam ul-Haq, who hit 113 off 122 balls.
The previous record of highest opening stands in ODIs is unbeaten 228 and Zaman and ul-Haq surpassed the highest ever opening stand in ODIs for any nation. Agencies
