I knew I wouldn’t play first three matches: Fakhar

LAHORE: Pakistan’s seasoned left-handed top order batsman Fakhar Zaman has revealed that the management had told him before the series against New Zealand that he would not play the first three matches.

“World Cup is very important and we are preparing for it but it is also important to win a game. If I talk about myself so before the series the management had told me that I would not play the first three matches and so everyone had been told about the chances they will be given in the series,” Fakhar told a post-match news conference here on Thursday night. Fakhar’s 61 off 45 went in vain as Pakistan were conquered by New Zealand by four runs in their fourth T20I here at the jam-packed Gaddafi Stadium.

Asked whether it was due to five changes which hurt Pakistan Fakhar said that it makes the difference. “Yes, it makes the difference as you know our main goal is World Cup and that is why we are making changes in every match. We made changes after winning the first game and in this game too five changes were made. No one wants to lose a game at international level but we are planning for World Cup and our combination should be better for that. We will try to win the next game,” Fakhar said.

Asked whether matches results are more important or experiments for the World Cup is more necessary, Fakhar said both are necessary. “We made more mistakes tonight. We did not get a good start and then me and Iftikhar had almost made the match. Due to dew batting was not difficult but hiccups at that stage damaged our cause,” Fakhar said.

“When Misbah was coach he told me that I could play a solid role for the country while playing at No4 and 5 and in opening Babar and Rizwan can do better than me. It creates issues but if you accept it and I did accepted that I could play at No 5, 6 and even at the seventh position for the country because I can do that,” Fakhar said.