In the Super 4 match of the Asia Cup 2023, Pakistan’s opener Fakhar Zaman continued to struggle with his form as he fell victim to Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s delivery at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday, September 11.
India, after being asked to bat first, amassed a formidable total of 356/2 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to exceptional performances from their top four batsmen. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill delivered brisk half-centuries, setting the tone for the innings, while Virat Kohli and KL Rahul followed suit by constructing fluent centuries, propelling India to an imposing score.
Facing a steep target of 357, Pakistan encountered a shaky start as Jasprit Bumrah and his fellow bowlers bowled impressively with the new ball. Early wickets tumbled, with Imam-ul-Haq (9), Babar Azam (10), and Mohammad Rizwan (2) departing cheaply.
Senior opener Fakhar Zaman initially played cautiously, weathering the early storm. However, he struggled to shift gears and seize control of his innings. In the 20th over, Fakhar attempted an aggressive shot against Kuldeep Yadav but completely missed the ball, resulting in his dismissal.
TIMBERRRR! đź’Ą@imkuldeep18 puts himself in the wickets column, foxing ace batter @FakharZamanLive!
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 11, 2023
Huge blow for #Pakistan.
Can #TeamIndia wrap this up soon?
Tune-in to #AsiaCupOnStar, LIVE NOW on Star Sports Network#INDvPAK #Cricket pic.twitter.com/giFQcgKRdG
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra recently highlighted Fakhar Zaman’s diminishing batting returns in recent matches for Pakistan. He observed that Fakhar consistently got promising starts and looked comfortable at the crease but was failing to convert them into substantial innings.
