Article Posted on 8 November, 2023

Former India opening batter Gautam Gambhir says Babar Azam supported Fakhar Zaman brilliantly as Pakistan trumped New Zealand in a rain-hit clash on Saturday.

Pakistan overcame the early loss of opening batsman Abdullah Shafique in their chase of 402, as Zaman smashed an unbeaten 81-ball 126 in the company of skipper Babar Azam who hit 66 not out to keep them ahead of the DLS par score after two rain delays.

The 1992 champions were on 200-1 in 25.3 overs when play was called off with the duo pummelling 14 fours and 13 sixes to blow New Zealand away.

"No matter how much you praise Fakhar Zaman, it is less, because of the way he batted, but Babar Azam supported him brilliantly as well. Fakhar could bat like that because Babar was at the other end," Gambhir said on Star Sports [as quoted by Cricket Pakistan].

"If Babar Azam had gotten out, or one or two more wickets had fallen, Fakhar Zaman might have had to go into his shell. It was an exceptional partnership.

"Assurity at one end and aggression at the other. Every player has his own strengths. Babar Azam cannot play like Fakhar Zaman and Fakhar cannot play like Babar. So look towards partnerships, they will win you matches," he added.

The 1992 champions were on 200-1 in 25.3 overs when play was called off with the duo pummelling 14 fours and 13 sixes to blow New Zealand away.

"We thought it would rain and planned accordingly," Zaman had told reporters. "We sent a message to the management after 15 overs that it was drizzling, tell us how many overs because we knew that before 20 overs the DLS method isn't applicable.

"So we asked them what target we needed to achieve in 20 overs. Of course, planning is important at that stage, playing without planning is very difficult. We had planned yesterday also and even today we played over by over."

"We understood very early on... that we can chase 400."