Pakistan’s Zaman Khan pulled off an unconventional move to influence his batting position, and it almost worked in the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup.
Zaman Khan went beyond traditional tactics by showing Stallions captain Mohammad Haris a TikTok video of himself hitting huge sixes to convince him to promote him up the batting order in the tournament.
But Haris was not convinced by Zaman’s playful tactics and sent Zaman Khan to bat at number 9 against the Panthers in the Champions One-Day Cup match.
Despite his captain’s disappointment, Zaman made the most of the limited time at the crease, delivering an explosive innings that left everyone in awe at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.
Coming in ninth in the batting order during the Stallions’ chase, the 23-year-old hit an impressive haul of 42 runs off just 16 balls, with his explosive innings riddled with six monstrous sixes. It was a sensational display of power with the bat that caught the eye, but unfortunately, his heroics went in vain.
The Stallions fell 20 runs short of the Panthers’ mammoth total of 344/7 in the Champions One-Day Cup match at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. Zaman’s terrific performance left Haris ruing his decision not to move him up the order, realising the impact he had missed.
Although the Stallions failed to cross the finishing line, Zaman’s cameo became the highlight of the Champions One-Day Cup match, and his unique strategy of using social media to influence his captain Haris quickly became the centre of attention. The clip of his confession is already all over social media.
I posted videos of my sixes on TikTok for Mohammad Haris to see: Zaman Khan
Well, the TikTok stunt may not have earned the right-handed hitter a spot in the batting order, but his six-hit streak will surely not be forgotten anytime soon, especially by Stallions captain Haris. He might reconsider his decision and promote Khan in the batting order.
Zaman Khan said in the post-match press conference, “I put videos of my sixes on Tiktok so that Haris could see them and he sent me to bat early. He had prepared me for the sixth over. (I posted videos of my sixes on TikTok so that Haris could see them and send me to bat early. He had prepared me for the sixth over).”
The young Pakistani signed off by saying, “Wo baad mein mere paas aya aur bola Zaman yaar mai to galti kar gaya. I said that video was posted for you too. (Later, he came to me and said, ‘Zaman, my friend, I made a mistake.’ I told him, ‘I posted that video just for you.)”
Watch the viral video here:
Zaman Khan: “Mainay apnay sixes ki videos lagaye thi takay Haris dekhay aur mujhe par batting early” pic.twitter.com/yC7bwP7MCe
— Thakur (@hassam_sajjad) September 21, 2024
It is noteworthy that Pakistan cricket team is currently preparing for the upcoming home Test series against England with the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup after their recent embarrassing thrashing at the hands of Bangladesh on home soil.
Pakistan and England will play three Tests next month.