Why not Fawad Alam? Something is seriously wrong with Inzamam-ul-Haq. Fawad Alam’s case should now be taken in by the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar.
These were the sentiments expressed by a reader on Pakistan Today’s Facebook page underneath a news item about the selection of a 16-man squad which had excluded Fawad Alam.
The sentiment is, of course, widespread. The name Fawad Alam draws instant indignation from the famously fickle fans of Pakistan.
Even Pakistan Today’s satirical publication The Dependent, perhaps inspired by the angry commenter, couldn’t help but take a swipe at yet another snub, writing a piece titled “Courts summon Inzamam-ul-Haq to ask ‘Faadi ko kyun nahi khilatay?’”
But how good is Fawad Alam, exactly? What makes fans so riled up as to cry havoc every time he is given the cold shoulder by selectors? And if he is all that, then what good is it doing to the current chief selector or those before him to exclude him from a team riddled with injuries?
Thoroughly devoid of natural talent with an ugly sort of batting technique, Fawad Alam really isn’t the sort of player that ticks. He shifts balance badly and scrunches his face up unpleasantly when exerting force. Unattractive stroke play combined with a small stature and an inability to hit anything big makes him a surprising crowd favourite.
Yet with a first-class average of 55.37, and List-A average of 49, nobody can deny he is Pakistan’s most prolific domestic cricketer. But maybe he just isn’t cut out of the mold that is required for the international format? Of course, his international numbers also indicate that he is a correct fit for the squad. He has an average of over 40 in tests, admittedly due to a single inning of 168 on debut, but he has only played three tests, and those too way back in 2009, long before he matured into the sensible player he has now become.
Back in 2015, he showed his steel in a tour game against England XI, and his ODI figures fare even better. With an average of 40.25, players with numbers much worse than him are mainstays in the Pakistan set-up. Admittedly, his strike rate is on the lower side at 74.
The only explanation one can think of for his exclusion is that there is no clear role for him in the current set up under Sarfraz Ahmed. What he does very well is oft done better by the likes of say, Harris Sohail.
But then there is nothing for a room in the test team right now. With an opener out and the team still trying to rebalance after the dual exist of Misbah and Younis, why doesn’t Fawad Alam get his chance ahead of the three debutants?
For a man quietly biding his time without any complaint continuing the drudgery of first-class cricket, is it any wonder that there is so much outcry? Meanwhile, loudmouths like Umar Akmal have been given chance after chance to no avail and continue to hark on about their wasted talent.
The only reason one can think of is his lack of style and charisma. And if that is indeed the criteria, then it really is a bad one.
