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.
Where has Fakhar been hiding ...... looks a marvellous striker of a ball ....... !!! #PAKvSA
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 7, 2017
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.
Question has to be asked- where has this FAKHAR been hiding? Great start Pakistan!!
— Stephen Fleming (@SPFleming7) June 7, 2017
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