Fawad Alam
Fawad Alam. (Credits: PCB)

Last Update on: August 13th, 2020 at 04:37 pm

After waiting for more than a decade, Fawad Alam has finally returned to Pakistan’s Test XI. The left-handed batsman has returned to the side for the ongoing second Test against England at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. He has replaced Shadab Khan in the team.

Fawad Alam had scored a century on his debut Test against Sri Lanka in July 2009 but was dropped just two matches later and was not picked since before making it to the playing eleven for the ongoing game. His last Test came against New Zealand almost 11 years ago.

What was even more frustrating for him was that he failed to find a spot in the team despite scoring heavily in first-class cricket. He averaged more than 56 at first-class level including 34 centuries but still remained a Test outcast for a decade before returning to the Test squad late last year.

His absence of 10 years and 258 days is the second longest interval between Tests for a Pakistan player, and the second longest this century for players from all nations.

The all-time ‘record’ belongs to John Traicos, whose third career Test came for South Africa against Australia in 1970 just before their ban from international cricket. It was after an incredible wait of 22 years and 222 days, Traicos played his fourth Test, this time for Zimbabwe against India.

And with Fawad Alam making his Test return, the cricket fraternity came up with incredible tweets. While some praised him for his perseverance, some pointed at the things that have changed between his last Test match and his latest one.

Here are some of the reactions:

https://twitter.com/imPakistaniLAD/status/1293844134948724737

Meanwhile, Pakistan are trailing the three-match Test series after losing the series-opener in Manchester by three wickets.

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