Image: Fakhar Zaman (Wikimedia Commons)
Fakhar Zaman: From the Navy to Pakistan’s Record Books
Some cricketers get discovered at fifteen in an academy. Fakhar Zaman got discovered in his twenties, wearing a naval uniform, playing cricket for the Pakistan Navy team almost as a hobby while his actual job was being a sailor. That he ended up as the first Pakistani to score an ODI double-century says a lot about how little his early career resembled a normal path to the top.
Katlang, Karachi, and a father who wanted something safer
Fakhar was born on 10 April 1990 in Katlang, a village in the Mardan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His father steered him toward joining the Pakistan Navy in 2007, hoping structure and a steady career would pull him away from cricket. It didn’t work, not entirely. A navy coach, Azam Khan, spotted him and pushed him to take the game seriously.
Walking away from a naval career
In 2013, Fakhar made what multiple profiles describe as a “tough decision” — leaving his naval career behind to chase professional cricket. That form got him a PSL contract with Lahore Qalandars in 2017, a franchise relationship that’s lasted his entire career.
The final that made him a household name
Fakhar’s international ODI debut came against South Africa in June 2017. Then came the final against India. Fakhar scored 114 off 106 balls, becoming the first Pakistani batter to score a century in an ICC event final. Pakistan won by 180 runs to lift the Champions Trophy for the first time, and Fakhar was named Player of the Match.
The double-century, and the fastest 1,000
On 20 July 2018, Fakhar became the first Pakistani batter ever to score a double century in ODI cricket, smashing an unbeaten 210 against Zimbabwe. Two days later, he became the fastest batter in the world to reach 1,000 ODI runs, doing it in just 18 innings.
193, and the innings that still hurts to remember
On 4 April 2021, chasing against South Africa, he scored 193 off 155 balls, at the time the highest individual score by anyone chasing in an ODI. Pakistan still lost the match by 17 runs.
The 2023 World Cup: dropped, then unforgettable
Against New Zealand, he produced one of the innings of the tournament: 126 off 81 balls, including 11 sixes — breaking Imran Nazir’s Pakistani record for most sixes in a single World Cup innings.
Style: raw power over textbook technique
Fakhar bats left-handed with an unusually high backlift and relies heavily on raw power rather than classical, textbook technique. In a Pakistan side that hasn’t always had a settled top order, Fakhar has repeatedly been the man trusted in the highest-pressure situations.
Injuries, and life in the shadow of Babar and Rizwan
Fakhar’s T20I career has never quite matched his ODI or PSL numbers, partly because he’s frequently had to bat out of his natural position to accommodate Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
Off the field
Fakhar goes by the nickname “fauji” — soldier — among his teammates. In 2020, the navy awarded him the honorary rank of Lieutenant.
Where he stands now
Fakhar Zaman’s career is a genuine outlier in modern Pakistani cricket: a player who left a stable military career for professional cricket and then became the country’s first ODI double-centurion, its fastest man to 1,000 ODI runs, and the scorer of one of its most iconic World Cup final centuries.
Quick facts
Full name: Fakhar Zaman | Born: 10 April 1990, Katlang, Mardan District | Role: Left-handed opening batter | Notable: First Pakistani ODI double-centurion (210* vs Zimbabwe), fastest to 1,000 ODI runs, 2017 Champions Trophy final Player of the Match, 193 vs South Africa — highest individual score while chasing at the time.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Fakhar Zaman?
Born on 10 April 1990, Fakhar Zaman is in his mid-thirties as of 2026.
Did Fakhar Zaman really serve in the Pakistan Navy?
Yes — he joined as a sailor in 2007 before leaving in 2013 to pursue professional cricket full-time, later being honoured with an honorary Lieutenant rank in 2020.
What is Fakhar Zaman’s highest ODI score?
An unbeaten 210 against Zimbabwe in July 2018, making him the first Pakistani batter to score an ODI double century.
Which PSL team does Fakhar Zaman play for?
Lahore Qalandars, where he has played his entire PSL career and become one of the tournament’s greatest-ever batters.
What is Fakhar Zaman’s nickname?
His teammates call him “fauji,” meaning soldier, a reference to his background in the Pakistan Navy.
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Researched and fact-checked against official league, federation and governing-body sources. Reviewed by Makhdoomzada Zaeem Muhammad, Founder & Editor, PinLivescore.