Published: Aug 08, 2023, 03:31 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 08, 2023, 03:31 PM (IST)
FAWAD Alam has decided to quit Pakistan cricket and end his his 15-year long career. Alam, who turned 37 in October, will now be a ‘local’ player for the Chicago Kingsmen in Minor League Cricket T20, a tournament that supports USA’s recently concluded T20 tournament Major League Cricket (MLC).
He joins the list with Pakistan players like Sami Aslam, Hammad Azam, Saif Badar and Mohammad Mohsin who moved to USA to continue their game in that country.
In spite of the fact that he made his white ball debut for Pakistan in 2007, Alam’s career has been irregular in the Pakistan team. He was dropped two or three Tests later despite smashing a ton on Test debut in 2009 and played his next Test following a hole of 11 years.
Despite storing up piles of runs with an average of 55 in the domestic circuit, Alam laid down a good foundation for himself in the Test group for a really small period after his career got another life in 2020. He justified his determination with 100 in New Zealand in challenging conditions in his third game after his return. He followed that up with hundreds against South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
Although, Alam’s unorthodox style of game got exposed against Australia in 2022. He could only score 33 runs in 4 ininhs and was ultimately dropped after flop outing in a Test against Sri Lanka in July 2022. He was also a part of Pakistan’s 2009 T20 World Cup winning team.
However, could only play 11 additional games in that format after the title win. He played 19 Tests, 38 ODIs and 24 T20Is for Pakistan with 5 Test hundreds over the years and a single ODI century against Sri Lanka in the 2014 Asia Cup.
Alam couldn’t find a spot in Test team despite his technique and form sparked massive debate all across the Pakistan cricket for nearly 10 years. Former cricketers and media kept on vouching for his selection as he produced loads of runs across many seasons in the Qaid-e-Azam trophy.
He has now called quit on his career with Pakistan cricket after scoring more than 14,000 runs in domestic circuit in 201 matches across 19 years.
