PAK vs SL: Son of PoK labourer Zaman Khan makes ODI debut for Pakistan, reminds fans of Lasith Malinga

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Zaman Khan, the 22-year-old Pakistan pace sensation, made his Pakistan ODI debut in the side's must-win Asia Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.

The Mirpur-born cricketer, who consistently clocks 90 mph on the speedometer, was not part of Pakistan's Asia Cup 2023 squad and was inducted alongside Shahnawaz Dahani after the injuries of Naseem Shah and Haris during the Super Fours match against India on Sunday and Monday.

Haris did not take the field for Pakistan on the reserve day due to discomfort in his right flank, while Naseem failed to complete his 10 over and left the field after bowling two balls in the 49th over. He had issue in his bowling shoulder.

Zaman Khan was preferred over the more experienced Shahnawaz Dahani for the crucial match which Pakistan need to win to face India in the Asia Cup 2023 final. Haris Rauf handed him the Pakistan ODI cap number 242.

The youngster made his T20I debut for Pakistan in their series against Afghanistan in Sharjah in March this year. The right-arm quick picked just two wickets but impressed with his pace and accuracy. He was picked in the Pakistan squad in the 3-match home T20I series against New Zealand in April.

Zaman Khan was most recently seen playing in the men's Hundred 2023. He featured in five matches there and could pick only two wickets. Overall, he has featured in 7 List A and 68 T20 matches in which he has picked six and 86 wickets respectively. He is yet to make his first-class debut.

From PoK to Asia Cup 2023: The Zaman Khan Story

Like many other Pakistan pacers, Zaman too cut his teeth in tape ball cricket in Mirpur, a small village in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Coming from a family of daily wage workers, Zaman was attracted to cricket from a very young age and found backing from his family to chase his dream.

"My father and brothers are labourers. I started playing cricket after watching other boys in my street playing that sport. I used to skip classes at Madrasa to play cricket. One of my relatives told me to take part in an under-16 trial in my village after seeing how fast I was bowling. Fortunately, I got selected and my journey started," Zaman said in a video posted by PCB.

Zaman Khan reminds fans of Lasith Malinga

The pacer reminded fans of Lasith Malinga because of his slinging bowling action. Interestingly, Sri Lanka too have their own version of 'junior Malinga' in the same match. Matheesha Pathirana has in fact been trained by none other than Lasith Malinga and has an uncanny resemblance with the legendary pacer. He bowled a maiden over to start his ODI career. Here's how fans reacted.