The exclusion of 32-year-old Fawad Alam — who has a first-class batting average of over 55 — from the Test squad for the England and Ireland tour announced on Sunday left Twitter users and sports journalists in Pakistan searching for answers.
Alam, among the 25 players called up for the training camp recently held in Lahore, scored an impressive 19 in the Yo-Yo Endurance Test, ahead of skipper Sarfraz and much younger players Hassan Ali, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman.
However, he was ignored while a number of younger batsmen including Saad Ali, Imamul Haq and Usman Salahuddin made the cut.
Suo motu to bring Fawad back
While some thought only a suo motu by the chief justice could bring him back, others expressed surprise at the inclusion of four openers.
Pretty sure at this point the only way Fawad Alam is ever getting back into the team is if CJ Saqib Nisar takes suo moto notice. #Justice4Fawad
— Asad Hashim (@AsadHashim) April 15, 2018
https://t.co/9X3REVT3ES
Four openers, including Imam ul Haq, picked for the tour comprised of just three Tests. Usman Salahuddin, Haris Sohail preferred over Fawad Alam, fail to understand what wrong Fawad has done.
— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) April 15, 2018
Domestic record
Some sports analysts also took the opportunity to point to his performances in the domestic circuit.
No place for Fawad Alam,what is the purpose of having domestic cricket when Pakistan cricket team is selected on likes and dislikes. https://t.co/1sJIcJs0Bv
— Mirza Iqbal Baig (@mirzaiqbal80) April 15, 2018
Pakistan has a multitude of social issues and problems.
— Dennis Sutherland-Peever (@DennisCricket_) April 15, 2018
Cricket selectors not picking Fawad Alam is the biggest.
Best FC ave in the country. Fittest guy at camp. Works hard. Great guy. Fills a middle order leadership void.
What are you doing Inzi? Mickey Arthur?
Fawad Alam "It seems other players runs in domestic cricket are of a greater importance & more relevant to selectors. Maybe my domestic runs are being scored in Bangladesh, Kenya or elsewhere & not in Pakistan, so that's why they are not important and are being ignored" #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) April 15, 2018
Most Twitter users criticised the selection of Saad Ali — Karachi based upper order batsman who was the highest run-scorer in last year's Quaid-e-Azam Trophy — and Chief Selector Inzamamul Haq's nephew Imamul Haq, both of whom have an average much less than Fawad's in the domestic circuit.
I’m not a huge fan of his but you don’t need to be one to realise Fawad Alam really is hard done by the selectors. Time and time again dude has outperformed every other domestic player. Imam and Saad are really fortunate imo.
— asad (@AsNr80) April 15, 2018
Most Twitter users criticised the selection of Saad Ali — Karachi based upper order batsman who was the highest run-scorer in last year's Quaid-e-Azam Trophy — and Chief Selector Inzamamul Haq's nephew Imamul Haq, both of whom have an average much less than Fawad's in the domestic circuit.
It was between Saad Ali and Fawad Alam.. Alam misses out https://t.co/CSerb03vtu
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) April 15, 2018
Despite it being one of his worse seasons in the domestic circuit, Fawad was the sixth highest run-scorer of the tournament with 570 runs at an average just above 40.
Meanwhile, sports journalist Zainab Abbas claimed the selectors had a choice between Fawad and Ali and decided to go with the latter.
