Pakistani star batter Fakhar Zaman and fiery pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi have won ESPNcricinfo Awards for ODI batting and T20 bowling awards, respectively.
Fakhar Zaman emerged as a Pakistan hero in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, where he scored 114 runs in 106 balls against India to help Pakistan clinch its first-ever Champions Trophy.
Since then, the left-handed brute batter has found his permanent spot in the Pakistan ODI team. Fakhar's quick 193 runs for 155 balls against hosts South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium has won him the ESPNcricinfo award in the ODI batting category.
It was a one-man assault against South African bowlers in pursuit of 342. Pakistan's batters had long given up on the chase with only one other Pakistan player managing to cross 20.
Fakhar had scored 44 sedately but had to unleash a relentless attack of 18 fours and ten sixes, amassing 193 off 155.
South Africa breathed a sigh of relief only after Zaman was run out in the last over, and Pakistan fell short by 17 runs.
Fakhar Zaman also entered into the Top 10 of the ICC ODI batting rankings and secured the ninth position.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's fiery pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has won the T20 bowling award for his ferocious bowling spell against arch-rivals India at the T20 World Cup 2021.
Shaheen bowled an exceptional spell of 3-31 in four overs to help Pakistan end their World Cup jinx against India. Shaheen's full-length in-swinging yorker hit Rohit Sharma's back pad, and upon appeal, the umpire gave Rohit out for a leg before wicket. In his next over, the star burst through Rahul's defenses with another inswinger that also seamed and skidded after hitting the pitch.
Virat Kohli, however, worked his way past the early strikes, making a 45-ball half-century, but Shaheen dismissed him with a slower bouncer, which left India 133 for 6 and overjoyed Pakistani fans dancing in Dubai stadium.