Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan opening batsman Fakhar Zaman has said that Pakistan will adopt a different strategy to nullify the high-flying Aussies, especially fast-bowler Billy Stanlake and opening batsman Aaron Finch. Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by seven wickets on Wednesday to set up a final clash with Australia, but they will face the Kangaroos one more time before that in a dead rubber on Thursday. “Stanlake bowled extremely well in the previous game but every day is a new day and we will hopefully play him in a better manner,” he said. “We will also adopt a different bowling strategy to counter Finch.”

Zaman – who is currently the top run scorer for Pakistan in the series with 114 runs – pointed out that a change in his batting approach has been pivotal to his good form. “Initially I used to play aggressive shots far too often but now I have become more measured in my approach towards batting,” he said. “I discussed my gameplan with senior players like Shoaib Malik and Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed, which proved fruitful as I now look to play proper cricketing shots.” Zaman also stated that Pakistan had enough batting depth to chase down the target despite Zimbabwe posting a total beyond their expectations.

“We were expecting a target around 130-140 but Mire played really well,” he said. “We were confident that we could chase down this target as we bat deep – with a player like Shadab Khan coming in at number nine.” He added that Sarfraz’s nature of captaincy does not impact the morale of the side negatively. “Yes he is sometimes loud in the field but we are okay with how Sarfraz goes about his business because it works for us,” he said. Zaman was also pleased with good batting wickets on offer in Zimbabwe, stating: “These are good conditions to bat in as compared to my tour with Pakistan A in 2016 when the pitches helped the bowlers more than the batsmen,” he said. After the dead rubber on Thursday, Pakistan will once again lock horns with Australia – in the final of the triangular series – on Sunday, July 8.

Published in Daily Times, July 5^th 2018.