NORTHAMPTON: Fakhar Zaman said he was pleased with Pakistan’s preparations for next month’s World Cup after the opener smashed a century against Northa­mptonshire in a tour match on Monday.

Fakhar scored 101 in Pakistan’s eight-wicket victory that followed a 100-run triumph against Kent in their opening tour game.

Pakistan, who will play World Cup hosts England in a one-off Twenty20 Inter­national before a five-match One-day International series ahead of the World Cup, play Leicestershire on Wednesday in the third and final practice game of the tour.

And Fakhar said the team was adapting well to the English conditions.

“We have adapted well,” Fakhar said in a video shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), with the tourists the first team to arrive in England ahead of the World Cup. “We’ve come in early and have got these practice matches to adapt to the conditions which is good.”

The first two tour matches have provided good practice to the Pakistan batsmen with Imad Wasim getting a ton against Kent while Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam and Haris Sohail have all scored half-centuries.

“It’s a good thing that our batsmen are all among the runs,” said Fakhar. “Irresp­ective of the opposition, when you make runs, it’s good for the mindset. Wher­ever you make runs, you get confidence.”

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2019