After becoming the first Pakistani cricketer to join the elite 200-club, national team's superstar opener Fakhar Zaman has said that he feels proud to break legendary Saeed Anwar’s record.
“I feel very good. Feel proud that I have surpassed the record of a legend like Saeed Anwar,” the left-hander said in a video interview released by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The 28-year-old became first Pakistan and overall sixth player to score a double ton in One Day Internationals (ODIs) on Friday.
He smashed unbeaten 210 from 156 deliveries, moving past the previous record for a Pakistan batsman set by Saeed Anwar with his 194 more than 21 years ago.
Fakhar said that he never put much thought into making and breaking records when he started playing cricket as his aim was just to get a chance of playing first class cricket. “When I started, I only wanted to play a FC match, and when I did it, I started thinking of playing an international game to get the status of an international player, never thought of playing this much or creating a world record,” he said.
Anwar's record was not the only record to tumble, as openers blazed to a world record 304-run stand, with Imam-ul-Haq hitting 113, to set up their innings, the triple hundred partnership becoming Pakistan's biggest for any wicket in ODIs.
He further said, “200 was not in my mind actually. I planned for 100, and then after completing the century, I kept on moving up the scoreboard without keeping anything in my mind.
“Instruction was to play as long as I can. I was trying to get a good start for the team. Imam played well too with me,” he added with a promise of giving even better performance in future games.
Fakhar also spoke about all the people who helped him throughout his career and supported him. He dedicated his performance to the people who stood with him during the times when he was struggling.