Fakhar Zaman surpasses Virat Kohli to break ODI record against Zimbabwe

Fakhar Zaman took just 18 innings to score 1000 ODI runs – three fewer than the record held jointly by five cricketers - during the fifth ODI encounter against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Sunday.

Fakhar Zaman became the fastest player to score 1,000 runs in ODIs as the Pakistan cricketer reached the milestone during the fifth ODI encounter against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Sunday.

Fakhar Zaman in action for Pakistan during the fifth ODI encounter against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.(REUTERS)

The 28-year old took just 18 innings to score 1000 ODI runs – three fewer than the record held jointly by five cricketers. West Indies legend Viv Richards, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Babar Azam and Quniton de Kock all took 21 innings to reach the milestone. Indian cricket team skipper Indian Captain Virat Kohli took 24 innings.

Zaman has been a stand-out performer for Pakistan in the past couple of years and with 3 fifties and 5 centuries in 18 matches, he has enjoyed a brilliant run of form in ODIs. The opener scored 114 off 106 balls in the final of last year’s ICC Champions Trophy as Pakistan defeated India to clinch the title.

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Fakhar Zaman, who was dismissed for 85, has scored 505 runs in the ongoing series - the highest by any cricketer in a five-match bilateral ODI series. He surpassed Zimbabwe cricketer Hamilton Masakadza’s record of 467 runs.

Earlier this week, Fakhar Zaman became the first Pakistan batsman to hit a double century in One Day Internationals. The batsman -- who remained unbeaten on 210 -- surpassed Saeed Anwar’s previous record for Pakistan of 194 and in the process, became the sixth cricketer to smack an ODI double century.

During the match, Zaman was involved in a record 304-run opening stand with Imam-ul-Haq as they went past the 286-run mark for the opening stand set by Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga against England in 2006.