Fakhar Zaman Becomes First Pakistani to 100 T20I Sixes as Sri Lanka Deny Pakistan Clean Sweep

RAWALPINDI: Fakhar Zaman became the first Pakistani cricketer to hit 100 sixes in T20 internationals on Tuesday, but the landmark came in a losing cause as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in the third T20I, denying the hosts a series clean sweep.

Main News Report

Fakhar Zaman reached the milestone during Pakistan's innings in the final match of the three-match T20I series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Chasing a strong total, the left-hander launched the ball over the ropes to bring up his 100th T20I six — a first for any Pakistani batter in the format, Gulf News reported.

Pakistan had already sealed the series with wins in the first two matches, but Sri Lanka had other ideas in the finale. Led by their captain and Shanaka, the visitors chased down the target with 8 wickets in hand, ending Pakistan's hopes of a 3-0 whitewash, CricToday reported.

Background Context

Fakhar Zaman has been one of Pakistan's most destructive white-ball openers for nearly a decade. Since his debut in 2017, he has built a reputation for aggressive strokeplay at the top of the order, including a famous double century in ODIs against Zimbabwe in 2018.

The 100-sixes club in T20Is is elite company globally, and no Pakistani had reached the mark before Fakhar. His achievement puts him alongside the format's most prolific six-hitters and cements his place among Pakistan's T20I greats.

Reactions and Statements

The Pakistan Cricket Board congratulated Fakhar on the milestone, and fans at Rawalpindi rose to applaud when the record was announced. Teammates were seen celebrating with the opener during the innings break.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, took pride in salvaging the series. Their captain praised the team's fightback after going 2-0 down, noting that finishing a tough tour with a convincing win would lift the squad's confidence.

Why This News Matters

• Historic first: Fakhar Zaman is the first Pakistani to 100 T20I sixes — a record that may stand for years given the gap to the next Pakistani on the list.
• Series context: Pakistan still won the series 2-1, but Sri Lanka's consolation victory denied the clean sweep and showed the visitors' resilience.
• Form ahead of big events: With major tournaments on the horizon, Fakhar's power-hitting form is a positive sign for Pakistan's top order.

Future Developments

Pakistan will look to carry their series-winning momentum into their next assignment, while Sri Lanka take heart from ending the tour on a high. Fakhar, meanwhile, will now chase the next milestone — extending a record he now owns outright. PakInsight Hub will follow both teams'

upcoming fixtures.