Asia Cup 2025: Dushmantha Chameera’s thunderbolt rocks Fakhar Zaman

WEB DESK: It was high drama under the Abu Dhabi lights as Pakistan and Sri Lanka locked horns in a crucial Asia Cup T20 2025 clash. But it was one fiery delivery that left the cricketing world on edge. Sri Lankan speedster Dushmantha Chameera delivered a searing short ball that struck Fakhar Zaman flush on the helmet, briefly silencing the roaring fans and sparking a social media storm.

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Chameera, bowling at full tilt, had already beaten Fakhar’s outside edge with a peach first-up. But it was his third ball, a 146 kmph thunderbolt, that reared up unexpectedly and smashed into Fakhar’s helmet as the Pakistani opener shaped up for an ill-timed pull shot.

The ball ballooned to extra cover, prompting Sri Lanka to go up in appeal for a catch and even opt for a review. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s physio sprinted onto the field as Fakhar took a moment to gather himself. Cameras caught the concern etched on teammates’ faces while Sri Lankan players sportingly checked in on the shaken batter.

Twitter exploded. Some fearing the worst, others applauding the spirit of the game.

Replays, however, confirmed no contact with bat or glove. The helmet had taken the full impact. After undergoing the concussion protocol, Fakhar stood up, dusted himself off, and resumed his innings, in what seemed like a warrior’s return that drew applause across the cricketing world.

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Earlier in the evening, Shaheen Shah Afridi had led Pakistan’s charge with the ball, ripping through Sri Lanka’s top order with two wickets in his first two overs. He finished with an impressive 3/28, while Haris Rauf and Hussain Talat chipped in with two apiece, helping Pakistan restrict Sri Lanka to 133/8.

Only Kamindu Mendis stood firm for the Lankans, crafting a fighting half-century to give his side something to bowl at.