PAK vs NZ: Fawad Alam Breaks Silence On Retirement Rumors; Comes In Babar Azam's Support
Published - 14 Jan 2024, 06:32 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:25 AM
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Pakistani cricketer Fawad Alam dismissed retirement rumors and affirmed his commitment to the National Cricket Team. Fawad Alam emphasized his dedication to making crucial decisions, including his retirement from international cricket, upon his return to Pakistan.
The 38-year-old has been a consistent run-scorer in first-class cricket, scoring an impressive total of 14,526 runs in 201 matches at an average of 55.65. In Test cricket, Alam scored 1011 runs in 19 matches at an average of 38.88, featuring five centuries and two fifties.
The Karachi-born cricketer debuted in the Test format against Sri Lanka in 2009. However, he was dropped from the squad after a few matches. Alam made a strong comeback to the Pakistan Test squad against England in Southampton in 2020 after an 11-year hiatus.
I Will Return Very Soon – Fawad Alam
In a conversation with Cricket Pakistan from the USA, Fawad Alam discussed his present cricket commitments and future considerations related to retirement.
“I am currently in the USA, here to play cricket. I will return very soon. Right now, I am playing cricket, and upon my return, I will make all decisions, including retirement. I will come back and handle all these things, and will make these decisions very soon,” Fawad said.
Alam scored a duck in his comeback match, but he rebounded with a resilient century in challenging conditions in New Zealand. He continued his impressive form with centuries in Zimbabwe and the West Indies, adding another century against South Africa at home.
However, his form declined, and he amassed only 33 runs across four innings on flat tracks against Australia. His final Test international appearance for Pakistan occurred in July 2022 against Sri Lanka in Galle, where he managed only 25 runs across two innings.
Saud Shakeel Is A Valuable Asset For Pakistan – Fawad Alam
Fawad Alam highlighted Saud Shakeel’s self-awareness regarding his weaknesses and expressed confidence in the young player’s capacity to overcome them. Fawad emphasized Shakeel’s value for the team and expressed trust in his ability to deliver in the future.
“This was Saud Shakeel’s first tour for a Test match in Australia. He also knows what faults he has, and he will try to cover them. He is a valuable asset for Pakistan. I feel that currently, there is no one better than him in the middle order. We have to trust him to perform and deliver in the future,” Fawad further added.
It Doesn’t Mean Babar Azam’s Technique Is Flawed – Fawad Alam
Fawad Alam stressed the importance of avoiding hasty judgments based on Babar Azam after a few failures. Alam emphasized the natural fluctuations in a player’s performance, urging caution against undue concern during minor downturns.
“Players go through ups and downs. A player can score zero one day and a century the next. Yes, Babar is consistent, but if he has a slight downturn, we get worried. If Babar scores runs with his current technique, then he is fine. And if he doesn’t score runs, it doesn’t mean his technique is flawed. We should be careful in making judgments,” Fawad concluded.
