The non- selection of Fawad Alam
and the suspense around it has given birth to so much speculation and suspicion that had it been cold war, probably it
would have become a prime project for the CIA or KGB. However at last the
southpaw returns after a decade, Caught at Point takes a look at his struggle
and what lies ahead for him
What
were you doing on November 28th, 2009? You must be wondering what a
bizarre question is this, how one can remember what they were doing 10 years
ago. However Fawad Alam remembers it exactly. It has been 10 years, 8 months 16
days as he returns after a decade long exile from international cricket.
On
28th November 2009, which was also coincidently the last Test of one
of the finest talents Shane Bond, Fawad Alam walked in Pakistan’s Test jersey
for the last time. After battling for 24 minutes, he spooned one-off Shane Bond
to Peter Fulton, at silly mid-on, managing to score five runs. As he trudged
off, he didn’t know that he wouldn’t be playing another Test for almost a
decade. Fawad was dropped and forgotten, in spite of the fact that just a few
Tests ago he had scored a remarkable century on his debut in Sri Lanka. He was
only 24 then, no one guided him about what he should do after getting dropped
from the team or what should he do to make a comeback.
Fawad
went back to Pakistan’s domestic cricket to start a long and hard struggle. In
spite of being son of a former player, the roads were bumpy and the judgement,
harsh. He was dismissed as a first class stalwart that didn’t have it in him to
succeed at the international level. His 168 in Sri Lanka which instilled life
in Pakistan’s cause in the match was forgotten quickly.
Amid
this, Alam started making runs in Quaid-e-Azam trophy, Pakistan’s first class
cricket competition. In 2011-12, he churned out 945 runs, which included 3
centuries and an average of 67.50. Next year in 2012-13, he amassed 534 runs at
an average of 66.75. In 2013-14, he got the chance to play in Asia cup, where
he performed very well. When it looked like he would settle down at least in
the ODI squad, he was dropped post Bangladesh tour, in 2015.
This
was the time when Pakistan needed a solid batsman at no.6, in Tests however
strangely the much awaited call never came. In a country where cricket is
considered to be a hot topic at lunch and tea, Alam’s case was scrutinized by media,
by his fellow cricketers and by the public. Some discarding him as one time
wonder, others asserting that his technique is fragile and some also speculated
that his game is boring and that’s why he was not selected. A number of them
were sympathetic that he was not a “parchi” and had no chacha, mamu in the management. One chief selector was supposedly
disappointed by the small size of his arms.
However,
Fawad never reacted to the criticism, the tiny man with a gargantuan first-class
record continued to mock the abhorrence in Pakistan’s cricket selection. History
tells us how selection in Pakistan cricket has shocked everyone, may be you can
get less shock by 440 volt current than Pakistan’s selectors decisions. A
number of them have ruined the careers of some of the most natural and gifted
cricketers in the country.
But
then this was Fawad Alam, who on his non- selection in 2017, didn’t react but
took his equipments and went out for routine training. He was sure that he was
not giving up no matter what happens and ultimately the chance came in 2019,
when he was picked for the team. Though, he had to wait for 4 more Tests to
return to the playing eleven.
On
13th August, when he walked out in the middle after an exile of 3911
days, it was a triumph of his willpower and determination. He might have been
out for a duck but nevertheless his journey through darkness has given hope to millions
of people who struggle daily in their lives and aspire to achieve their dreams.
It has given them hope to cling on for some time without a sifarish.
Fawad
on the other hand has cherished his journey so far, he is 35 and he knows that
he just needs to think of the present and enjoy every day under the sun. You never
know lady luck, after all coach Misbah-ul-Haq was a year older than Alam when
he made his grand return a decade ago.
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