Fakhar Zaman draws praise from cricket greats post successful ODI debut

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has received praise from former greats Stephen Fleming and Michael Vaughan after making his successful one-day international (ODI) debut against South Africa in their second Group B Champions Trophy fixture last evening.

The 27-year-old smashed 31 off 23 balls, including six boundaries, and maintained an impressive strike rate of 134 as Pakistan bounced back from their humiliating defeat against arch-rivals India to register a 19-run win over South Africa at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

Labelling Zaman as `marvellous striker of a ball`, former England captain Michael Vaughan quizzed as to where he was hiding.

"Where has Fakhar been hiding ...... looks a marvellous striker of a ball ....... !!! #PAKvSA," Vaughan wrote on Twitter.

Echoing similar views, former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming also expressed his surprise over the talent of the 27-year-old batsman.
"Question has to be asked - where has this Fakhar been hiding? Great start Pakistan!" tweeted Fleming.

Zaman, who had played three Twenty20 Internationals against West Indies, was called in to replace out-of-form opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad to open the innings with Azhar Ali.

-ANI