Fakhar the fast: Opener sets new ODI record

Fakhar Zaman's remarkable start to his international career has seen one of the last remaining one-day international batting records set in the 20th century erased from the record books.

In just his 18th innings, Zaman notched his 1,000th run with a boundary through the off-side in the final match of Pakistan's ODI series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Sunday.

The left-hander is comfortably the fastest man to the milestone, breaking the record of 21 innings first set by the legendary Sir Viv Richards in 1980 and since equalled by Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Quinton de Kock and, most recently, Babar Azam.

Having struck an incredible 430 runs in the first four matches of the Zimbabwe series, Zaman needed only a further 20 runs to set the new ODI batting benchmark.

Richards' record had represented one of the last holdouts in the record books from a bygone era of one-day cricket, a format that has been transformed in recent times by bigger bats, smaller boundaries, fielding restrictions and the influence of T20 cricket.

The West Indian had been the only player from the preceding century to hold a record as the fastest to a multiple of 1,000 runs.

The record for the fastest to every run milestone of 1,000 runs onwards has been set since 2001, with Hashim Amla the quickest to each milestone between 2,000 and 7,000, Virat Kohli the fastest to 8,000 and 9,000 while Sachin Tendulkar holds every record from 10,000 runs onwards.

Zaman's rapid 148-ball double-century on Friday put him within touching distance of the 1,000-run record, with the opener blasting an unbeaten 210 off just 156 balls, Pakistan's highest ever ODI score. 

It was only the sixth double-ton in men's ODI history and his 304-run first-wicket stand with Imam-ul-Haq was also a record. 

His stunning series continues the incredible beginning to Zaman's career in the top flight, with the 28-year-old a relative late-comer to the international scene.

A tall batter from Pakistan's northwest, Fakhar identified joining the Pakistan navy as the "biggest turning point in my career", having appeared in a armed forces tournament that kick-started his domestic career.

He played five years in domestic tournaments before starring for the Lahore Qalandars in last year's Pakistan Super League T20 competition, convincing national selectors to pick him for the Champions Trophy in the United Kingdom last year.

Written off as rank outsiders, Pakistan unearthed a new hero when Zaman struck his maiden international century against fierce rivals India in the final to lead the side to an unlikely victory.

FASTEST TO 1,000 ODI RUNS

18 innings - Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)

21 innings - Sir Viv Richards (West Indies)

21 innings - Kevin Pietersen (England)

21 innings - Jonathan Trott (England)

21 innings - Quinton de Kock (South Africa)

21 innings - Babar Azam (Pakistan)