Pakistan opening batsman Fakhar Zaman has been awarded the ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for April 2023 for his impressive performance during the recently concluded home series against New Zealand.
The in-form batsman has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month after a brilliant month in April. He beat off stiff competition from Sri Lankan spin wizard Parbat Jayasuriya and rising New Zealand batsman Mark Chapman.
Fakhar led the charge for Pakistan as they chased their second-highest ODI runs in Rawalpindi at the end of the month, the ICC said.
The opener scored an unbeaten 180 to help Pakistan chase down a target of 337 against visiting New Zealand to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Fakhar’s innings came with 17 fours and six massive sixes as Pakistan won a high-scoring contest with 10 balls to spare.
It was the left-hander’s second century in as many matches during April, scoring 117 off 114 balls to help Pakistan chase down 289 in the first game at the same venue.
Fakhar led the run chase from the start, only to be dismissed in the 43rd over, when Pakistan were well on their way to chasing down the winning score. He received the player of the match award for his efforts.
The left-hander started the month with a blistering 47 in the first T20I against New Zealand in Lahore, contributing to the home side’s emphatic 88-run victory. While he did not click in the next two T20Is, Fakhar stormed into the ODI format, a format in which he has always thrived.
Fakhar now has 3,148 ODI runs at an average of 49.71 and a strike rate of around 95 during his 67-match career and the Pakistan opener said it was a great feeling to receive the honour.
‘April is one of the highlights of my career’
“It’s a real honor to be named the ICC Player of the Month for April,” said Fakhar.
“This month is one of the highlights of my career and it was an amazing feeling to play in front of my people in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi,” he said.
Sharing his personal favourite: The hard-hitting batsman said: “I enjoyed scoring back-to-back centuries in Rawalpindi, but my favorite was the 180 not out in the second match.
“I hope to continue the momentum going into the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and make Pakistani cricket fans happy and proud with my performances.”
