Published: Oct 18, 2018, 02:14 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 18, 2018, 02:14 PM (IST)
Making his debut count after replacing Imam-ul-Haq, who fractured his finger in the drawn opening Test against Australia, Fakhar Zaman scored consecutive half centuries – he missed out on a century by six runs in the first innings – in the second Test at Abu Dhabi to prove his mettle in Test cricket.
Zaman put on 147 runs with captain Sarfraz Ahmed as the duo steered the Pakistan first innings total to 282 after being in dire straits at 57/5.
“You are not satisfied no matter how many runs you score. I wanted to get a hundred in the first innings. I was trying to play my natural game, but the situation demanded a different approach. Our position, as a team, was better in the second innings. So, I tried to score runs my way,” Zaman said on Wednesday after the end of Day 2.
Zaman, who will be remembered for his 114 in the ICC Champions Trophy against India last year, back his skipper for the support during their partnership in the first innings
“I got support from him in the first innings. My approach was that I have to stay at the wicket for a couple of sessions, to keep wickets in hand, even if I don’t score runs,” Zaman was quoted as saying by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday.
“But he scored runs and it pushed the fielders back which allowed us easy ones and twos. All credit goes to him.”
Zaman had a bad outing in the 2018 Asia Cup. He scored 24 in the first match against Hong Kong which was followed by ducks against India and Afghanistan. He notched 31 against India in the Super Four stage and added only 1 against Bangladesh.
“I was unlucky. I played some questionable shots in the Asia Cup,” he said.
“I was in form. I was middling the ball in the nets. I should’ve taken my time as the pitches demanded.”
After going through a bad run in the Asia Cup, it was coach Mickey Arthur, who decided to keep Zaman in the Test squad.
“I wanted to play cricket. I asked Mickey if I should go back to domestic cricket or play in the ‘A’ side. But he kept me in the [Test] side. Credit goes to him. Before the UK tour he told me that I won’t be getting any matches, but he wanted me to prepare for Test cricket,” said Zaman.
