Record-breaker on the way for misfiring Heat
RECORD-BREAKING Pakistani batsman Fakhar Zaman is heading to Australia for a short-term stint with the Big Bash League’s Brisbane Heat.
The Heat confirmed on Friday that it had signed Zaman to a three-game contract as a replacement for injured British batsman Tom Abell.
Zaman has represented Pakistan in all three formats of the game, but is considered a white-ball specialist.
He most recently gave Australia headaches at this year’s T20 World Cup, where he belted an unbeaten 55 runs in the semi-final.
Zaman (pictured) wrote his name in the record books playing against Zimbabwe in 2018, becoming the only Pakistani batsman ever to score 200 runs in an ODI.
That year, he surpassed Sir Viv Richards by reaching 1000 ODI runs in the fewest innings of any batsman in history.
Zaman also holds the record for the highest individual score batting in the second innings of an ODI (193).
He averages just under a half-century at ODI level and has played 64 T20IS, making him the eighth-most capped player in Pakistani T20I history.
Zaman will play his first game for the Heat on Thursday, against the battling Melbourne Renegades.
In compliance with state biosecurity protocols, he will need to spend 14 days outside of Queensland before he can play a home game for the Heat.
Coach Wade Seccombe said he looked forward to working with Zaman.
“It’s great to have a player of his class available for us at relatively short notice,’’ he said.
The Heat is preparing for their New Year’s Day battle with Hobart Hurricanes, whose opening batsman Ben Mcdermott has been in devastating form.