Sharif praises Fakhar, Minhas and Nawaz after Pakistan's tri-series title win
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif singled out Fakhar Zaman, Arafat Minhas and Hasan Nawaz for praise after Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in the ODI tri-series final in Lahore on October 31. The hosts reached their target of 326 with nine balls to spare, claiming their first home ODI tri-series title.
Yousef Al Marzouqi
Sharif celebrates the victory
In a post on X after Saturday's final at Gaddafi Stadium, Sharif wrote: "Congratulations, Pakistan! A historic victory over Sri Lanka in the Tri-Series Final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore!"
He credited both the veteran opener and the younger batters: "An outstanding century by Fakhar Zaman, followed by a magnificent partnership between two promising young talents, Arafat Minhas and Hassan Nawaz."
Sharif extended his congratulations to the coaching staff, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the team's millions of supporters. "Wishing Pakistan cricket many more such triumphs," he added.
A century and two key partnerships
Fakhar's 127 from 99 balls, featuring 11 fours and six sixes, anchored Pakistan's pursuit. His innings followed a difficult run: AP and Sky Sports reported that he had scored just 31 runs across his previous four innings and injured his right knee while fielding in the final, keeping him in the dressing room for much of Sri Lanka's innings.
He reached his hundred in 84 deliveries. According to The Tribune (ANI), Fakhar became only the second Pakistan batter to score two centuries in ODI finals.
Wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig contributed 74 in a 149-run stand with Fakhar. AP and Sky Sports reported that the 19-year-old faced 75 balls, while AP put the attendance at Gaddafi Stadium at 31,265.
Pakistan came under pressure again when Fakhar departed, but Minhas and Nawaz shifted the contest with a 94-run partnership. Minhas struck 61 from 31 balls, and Nawaz finished unbeaten on 37. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi hit the winning six to take Pakistan to 331-7.
Minhas also received the Player of the Series award, AP reported. The Tribune (ANI) described Pakistan's successful pursuit as the joint-highest run chase in an ODI final, matching India's against England in the 2002 NatWest Series final at Lord's.
Sri Lanka's total and missed chances
Earlier, Sri Lanka had been sent in to bat and made 325-8. Kamindu Mendis supplied 131 from 128 balls for his maiden ODI century, sharing a third-wicket partnership worth 146 with Pavan Rathnayake, whose 77 came from 65 deliveries, according to AP, Sky Sports and The Tribune.
Pakistan were missing the unwell Shadab Khan. AP reported that Sri Lanka scored 87 runs while losing six wickets over the last 10 overs, with Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf each taking two wickets.
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis said his team had finished "short by 25-30 runs" and pointed to fielding errors as a factor in the defeat. "Our bowling unit did well in the powerplay (but) our mistakes in the fielding cost us which we need to work on moving forward," he said, according to AP. He also noted positives from the series.
England had failed to reach the final after three defeats in four matches. According to AP, their losses included Sri Lanka's chase of 430 at Rawalpindi, the second-highest successful chase in ODI history, and a one-wicket defeat by Pakistan in Lahore.
