Pakistan beat New Zealand by 21 runs (DLS method) in the 35th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, India, on Saturday and the former cricketers of the nation have nothing but good words for the Green Shirts' batters, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam.
Courtesy of a blistering batting display by Fakhar, Pakistan were 21 runs ahead on the DLS score after 25.3 overs and emerged victorious.
Babar and Fakhar combined for 194 runs as they propelled the Men in Green to a crucial win as they now prepare to take on the struggling England team in yet another must-win match on November 11 in Kolkata.
Former and current cricketers couldn't refrain from praising the two batters and congratulating them including the entire nation for an important.
Here is what they posted on their X, formerly Twitter, account.
It must be noted that Fakhar also scored the fastest century (63 balls) for Pakistan in a World Cup match overtaking former cricketer Imran Nazir who did it in 95 balls against Zimbabwe in the 2007 World Cup.
The 33-year-old hit 11 sixes in the process, becoming the only fourth batter to score ten or more sixes in the history of the World Cup.
Batting first, the Black Caps posted 401-6, the second-highest total of the ongoing competition on the back of Rachin Ravindra (108), Kane Williamson (95) and Glenn Phillips (41).
Mark Chapman (39), Daryl Mitchell (29) and Mitchell Santner (26) made valuable contributions.
Williamson, back in the team after breaking his thumb earlier in the tournament, fell for 95 after sharing a 180-run second-wicket partnership with Ravindra.
Pakistan's fast bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf set unwanted records as both pacers bowled the most expensive spells for the Men in Green in World Cup history with the former conceding 90 runs in 10 overs, while the latter conceded 85 in 10 overs..
- Fakhar Zaman
- Babar Azam