Pakistan middle-order batsman, Fawad Alam has been in the mix of things for Pakistan since 2009. But he hasn’t got ample opportunities in the starting eleven even after his consistent performances for the national team. Much of the credit goes to the packed middle-order over the years in the form of Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and others. Alam made his debut in 2009 but has only managed to play seven Test matches for Pakistan, since. In a recent interview, he did not put the blame on management or selectors for not being able to pick him often.
After making his debut in 2009 and scoring a century on debut, he was neglected by the selectors and the team management and not picked up in the side. It was only after 11 years in August 2020 that Fawad got a call back in the team for the Pakistan tour of England. He scored another hundred on this tour. In the on-going Test series between South Africa and Pakistan, he scored yet another hundred in the first innings to rescue his side and gave a sizeable lead to the hosts. Pakistan were 27-4 in the first innings when Fawad came into bat, the score was 278; well beyond SA’s first innings score of 215.
In Misbah’s Defense:
Pakistan’s coach and ex-skipper, Misbah ul Haq is always criticized by Pakistani fans and ex-players, alike for not being able to deliver the desired results for the team.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan's Head Coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis have come under a lot of fire after the 2-0 loss in New Zealand.<br><br>Pakistan have lost 5 out of 10 Tests since their appointments.<br><br>A series win in the <a >#PAKvSA</a> series would take much of the heat off of them. <a >pic.twitter.com/NybD5NR6l6</a></p>— Grassroots Cricket (@grassrootscric) <a >January 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Performance Of Pakistan's Cricket Team Since Misbah Has Been Stormed In: <a >pic.twitter.com/zj2o73B8Nr</a></p>— CGPA 2.0 (@CGPA2point0) <a >January 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Qaum k mujrim kaun?<br><br>Chief Selectors:<br>M. Ilyas<br>Iqbal Qasim<br>Mohsin Khan<br>Moin Khan<br>Inzamam<br>Misbah<br><br>Captains:<br>Afridi<br>Misbah<br>Azhar Ali<br>Sarfaraz<br><br>The people above were responsible for wasting 10 years of <a >#FawadAlam</a>.<br><br>Please add more names <a >@TheRealPCB</a>, if I have missed out some. <a >pic.twitter.com/MUVnLgYQuu</a></p>— Annus Raza (@annusraza) <a >January 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
But Alam had only good things to say about his coach. He said that the confidence which Misbah showed in him allowed him to be free and score runs for the team. He said: "My two bad innings in England, I felt I could have been dropped for them but he (Misbah) didn't loss his faith in me and kept on encouraging me. He knew the potential in me and gave me another chance in New Zealand, so this specific support from the coach, lifts you up and then that is the confidence you takes to the crease.”
Even Shoaib Akhtar questioned the Pakistan selectors for not selecting Fawad for so many years in a tweet.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another 100 by <a >@iamfawadalam25</a>. So I'd like to know who will be answerable for not selecting him all these years? <br><br>Great determination! <a >#FawadAlam</a></p>— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) <a >January 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
But while responding to the same questions, he did not put the blame on anyone. Rather, he said that his experience of playing domestic cricket for 10 years helped him get better every day. He thanked the management and support staff for helping him in building confidence. He said: "When you are told that you are the one and you have to do it, then it gets easier. These little positive things from management can make a big difference and then you be able to focus on your game properly."
Currently Pakistan and South Africa are playing their first Test match which is looking like a see-saw game. Come Day 4 of the Test, one can still not predict what would be the result of the game.