Guest: FAKHAR ZAMAN (CRICKETER)
HOST: IMRAN KHAN
#fakharzaman #imrankhan #arypodcast #podcast
HOST: IMRAN KHAN
#fakharzaman #imrankhan #arypodcast #podcast
Category
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00In Pakistan cricket team's T20 equation, what exactly is Fakhar Zaman's role?
00:06When I start playing for Pakistan, my role is always aggressive.
00:09I try to make my life easier for my partner.
00:16I can see that Saim Ayub can become a very good player in the future if he carries himself well.
00:25What mistakes do you think you made?
00:26The biggest mistake I made was that I didn't understand the situation of the bowler.
00:34If you watch Babur and Rizwan's game, they play with the situation.
00:39Assalam-o-Alaikum, welcome back to Cricket Kahani.
00:55Pakistan cricket team is going to play the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
01:00With me today is Pakistan's star white ball batter, Fakhar Zaman.
01:05Mr. Fakhar, Assalam-o-Alaikum, how are you?
01:07Assalam-o-Alaikum, how are you?
01:09Mr. Imran, how are you?
01:10I am absolutely fine.
01:11First of all, tell me how did you start playing cricket and what was your inspiration to start playing cricket?
01:19Cricket is played in the streets and fields where I live.
01:28We used to play cricket and watch matches on TV.
01:34I didn't have a desire to play cricket in Pakistan.
01:41I remember that whenever we used to play cricket, we used to play it on the terrace of our house.
01:52We used to play it wherever we could.
01:56With time, I realized that we can play cricket with cricket balls.
02:01We used to play tennis balls by taping them.
02:06When I was in school, I played with the school team and when I went to the Navy, I played with the Navy.
02:12You played cricket at a time when the game hadn't changed that much.
02:19But you adopted an attacking mode at that time.
02:23Who was your inspiration to start playing cricket?
02:27I used to follow Adam Gilchrist from the beginning and I liked his game a lot.
02:33I used to watch him at the start and when AB de Villiers came, I fell in love with his game.
02:41I used to watch his batting whenever he used to play.
02:47Everyone at home used to know that he won't get up from the TV till he plays.
02:52You also shared a dressing room with AB de Villiers at a time.
02:56How was that experience in Lahore?
02:58He didn't come to Lahore much but he spent a lot of time there.
03:04Luckily, we had a good partnership in one match.
03:07When I was watching him, I had the same feelings.
03:12I liked the way he was picking the ball because I don't think there was a player like him in cricket.
03:27I liked sharing the dressing room with him.
03:31You mentioned Adam Gilchrist. Did you meet him?
03:34I met him once at the ICC academy in Dubai.
03:38I didn't tell him how much I liked his batting.
03:45I just had the same memories of his batting.
03:51I liked him because he changed the game.
03:56He used to play cricket fearlessly.
03:58I think he was a good player at that time.
04:02What would he have done if he was in today's cricket?
04:05Since you started playing cricket, how has T20 cricket changed?
04:12You are going to play in the World Cup.
04:13How do you think cricket has changed in the last 7-8 years?
04:16It has changed a lot.
04:18When I started playing cricket, people used to say that you have to take some time in the beginning.
04:26If you have wickets in hand, you can cover it later.
04:33But now it's the opposite.
04:35Now they say that you have to run more in the beginning.
04:38If you run more, you can take more time.
04:41You have to take a chance in the beginning.
04:43Wherever I play, the plan is to run more in 6 overs.
04:46Even if I lose 2 wickets, I have to score more.
04:49It's totally the opposite in the last 5-6 years.
04:52The way league cricket has started, the runs that are made...
05:01The wickets are being made in such a way that people want more scores.
05:05It's even better.
05:08Gary Kirsten has recently become Pakistan's white ball coach.
05:13You will meet him in England.
05:14Have you spoken to him?
05:16How excited are you to play under him?
05:18I had a Zoom meeting with the whole team.
05:22I was listening to him for the first time.
05:24I have heard a lot about him.
05:26There are already some people in our management from South Africa.
05:31I have asked them about Gary.
05:35They also said very positive things about him.
05:39The best thing is that they told us to play for the person who is at the front of your shirt.
05:48Not for the person who is at the back of your shirt.
05:50Because your name is written there.
05:52This is a very deep thing.
05:55He shared a lot of his experience.
05:58He was also saying that he can't say much on Zoom.
06:04But when we meet, we will sit together and make a plan.
06:09It felt good to hear that.
06:11You are a senior player.
06:13You have played under multiple coaching setups.
06:16How difficult or easy is it to transition into a new coaching setup?
06:22It's not easy.
06:24It's good, but I don't think it's easy.
06:28If you spend a lot of time with the management,
06:33you develop trust.
06:35You understand each other.
06:37Because the management or the head coach is not with you all the time.
06:43I think it takes at least 6-7 months to understand each other.
06:47I don't think there should be any change.
06:51If there is a coach, he should be a coach for a long time.
06:55Even if he is not a good coach,
06:58your trust develops with time.
07:01Then you enjoy under him.
07:03You have been asked this question many times.
07:08But today you have to give the real answer.
07:10What exactly is Fakhar Zaman's role in the Pakistan cricket team's T20 equation?
07:19Ever since I started playing for Pakistan,
07:24my role has always been aggressive.
07:27I try to make my partner's life easier.
07:36My role is still the same.
07:39My number has changed.
07:42But I think my role is still the same.
07:46The captain and our management think that
07:50if I play, no matter who is batting before me,
07:54I should play aggressively and make it easy for them.
07:58Fakhar, I want to ask you a question.
08:00You went to Johannesburg in 2021.
08:03You won the match against South Africa in an almost impossible situation.
08:08The 2017 Champions Trophy was an unforgettable knock.
08:12Then you played 180 against New Zealand when we were chasing 336-337.
08:17You played such great innings against New Zealand in the World Cup.
08:21This belief that if a match is played in any situation,
08:26Fakhar Zaman will raise his hand and he will deliver.
08:29Did you have this belief since childhood?
08:32Or did you develop it after playing cricket?
08:34Where does this belief come from?
08:36I have been asked this question many times.
08:39I don't think there is such a special thing.
08:44I have this belief in every match.
08:47But when you perform, people remember that.
08:52I try to say the same thing in every match.
08:55I consider myself lucky when there is a big match or a knockout.
09:01My performance is good.
09:05But my belief is always the same.
09:11I try to perform well in every tournament.
09:17Cricket is a game in which you need luck.
09:21You can't do anything without God's help.
09:25Even if you get a no-ball in the middle.
09:26Even if you get a no-ball in the middle.
09:29Even if you get a no-ball in the 100,
09:34Even if you get a no-ball in the 180,
09:36Even if you get a catch on 56,
09:39I try to do the same in every match.
09:42But cricket is the same. Anything can happen.
09:45Obviously, it can't happen in every match.
09:47Fakhar, you are going to the World Cup.
09:49There is going to be a marquee clash between Pakistan and India.
09:52It will probably be the most watched game in the World Cup.
09:56It won't be a wrong guess.
09:59You have experienced that pressure and intensity.
10:03How much do you pass on your knowledge to youngsters like Saim Ayub, Azam Khan?
10:08Because they might be experiencing this intense pressure for the first time.
10:14To be honest, there is nothing special about it.
10:17But even if it happens, I will tell them that it is like a normal match.
10:23I have full faith that they will do the same.
10:28I will talk to all the youngsters, especially Saim.
10:38I tell him that I don't want him to repeat the mistakes he made at his age.
10:45As a cricketer, batting is not an easy job.
10:50Especially in the opening.
10:53Based on my experience, I am trying my best.
10:57I can see that Saim Ayub can become a very good player in the future.
11:03If he carries himself well.
11:06What mistakes did you make while you were young?
11:10There are some things that you realize with time that you are doing the right thing.
11:16But it doesn't happen.
11:18The biggest mistake I made was that I didn't understand the bowler.
11:24I used to tell the bowler to play the same way in every situation.
11:28But it doesn't happen like that.
11:30If you watch Babur and Rizwan's game, they play with the situation.
11:36There are a lot of things that I can't tell you.
11:39I have already shared some things with Saim.
11:43With time, a person understands.
11:46I have understood that now.
11:48I want him to understand early.
11:50Can you be called the new professor of the Pakistan team?
11:54No, the rank of a professor is a little high.
11:59I can't explain it to anyone.
12:03There is only one professor, Hafeez Bhai.
12:06What are your expectations from the World Cup?
12:09For the first time in America, the Pakistan team is playing in the World Cup.
12:12Inshallah, we will play the next round in the West Indies.
12:15What kind of pitches are you expecting?
12:17What are you talking about?
12:19How are you mentally preparing yourself for this?
12:22We will play the World Cup to win.
12:26You saw the last two World Cups.
12:29We were runners-up in the last World Cup.
12:32We lost the semifinal in the last World Cup.
12:35We are performing well in the World Cup.
12:38We have not won the title yet.
12:41We will try our best to win the World Cup.
12:45The way the team has been formed and the way the team has been prepared,
12:50there is a good chance.
12:53In T20 cricket, only one player can change the scenario of the match,
12:57whether it is bowling or batting.
12:59There are a lot of match winners in our team.
13:03I hope that the way the fitness of the boys is going,
13:07we won't have a problem with injuries in the World Cup.
13:11As far as pitches are concerned, I have played a lot in the West Indies.
13:15I have heard that the pitches in America are similar to those in Asia.
13:20Aamir, Imad Waseem, Azam Khan, all of them have played in the CPL.
13:26They have a lot of experience and they are passing it on to everyone.
13:32Tell me one thing.
13:34You are now 34-35 years old.
13:41How much cricket is left in your mind?
13:44What is the objective of life at the moment?
13:47You are watching the ODI World Cup, the Champions Trophy, this World Cup.
13:51What is Fakhar Zaman's objective for the Pakistan team?
13:55Whenever I am asked, I don't think too much.
13:59I only think about the next tour.
14:02I have not thought about it.
14:05If I talk about my body, I think I can play cricket for the next 8-10 years.
14:13If I talk about my plan, I only plan for the next tour.
14:18I do my training accordingly.
14:21If you think too much, a lot of things get in the way.
14:26I only think about the next tour.
14:29My next target is the World Cup.
14:31Fakhar, thank you very much for joining us.
14:34I hope you lift a trophy this year and that trophy is the ICC T20 World Cup.
14:40Our best wishes with you. Thank you for joining us.
14:42Thank you.