DUBAI: Pakistan opener Fakhar has been nominated for ICC Player of the Month for April 2023 following his sensational run-scoring spree in the ongoing PAK vs NZ ODI series.
Fakhar, who scored back-to-back centuries in the first two ODIs of Pakistan’s home series against New Zealand, was shortlisted for the award by the International Cricket Council on Wednesday.
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Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya and New Zealand’s Mark Chapman are the other two nominees for the men’s Player of April 2023.
“The left-hander started the month with a rapid 47 in the first T20I in Lahore against New Zealand, playing a part in the home side’s thumping 88-run victory. While he didn’t click in the next two T20I matches, Fakhar stormed into form in ODIs, a format he has always thrived in,” said ICC.
“The Pakistan opener now has 3082 ODI runs at an average of 49.71 and a strike-rate of almost 95 in his 67-match career. ”
The 33-year-old played a marathon knock of 180 not out in the second ODI to help Green Shirts chase down their second-highest total in ODIs and take a 2-0 lead in the series.
It was his second ton in the series as he earlier 117 runs in the first ODI to lead the way for Pakistan in their 289-run chase in the first ODI at the same venue.
Fakhar made his claim to a host of individual records following his match-winning knocks as he became the fastest batter not just from the country but from Asia to complete 3000 ODI runs and just the fourth Pakistan batter after Saeed Anwar, Zaheer Abbas and Babar(twice) to hit three centuries in three straight games.
Besides, his blitzkrieg 180* is the highest score by any Pakistan batter in a successful ODI run chase.