'Fawad Alam will be playing the Test series against Sri Lanka,' reveals Shoaib Akhtar

It is fair to say that Pakistan’s batting- despite the brilliance of Babar Azam and rearguard resilience by Yasir Shah who scored his maiden First-Class hundred- struggled big-time against the Australian bowlers- Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Nathan Lyon. The fact that Yasir Shah ended the series as their second-highest run-getter testifies their misery to the hilt.

The top-order barring Shan Masood, who showed his grit, character, and resilience, had no answers whatsoever to the sustained hostility and relentlessness of Australia‘s pace attack and it was only their middle-lower order that bailed them out of major embarrassment in both Tests. Naturally, as is the case every time, Azhar Ali-led outfit and Misbah Ul Haq- Head coach + chief selector- are facing major backlash back home by both the fans as well as former cricketers.

Every time a Pakistan batsman fails to turn up on an overseas tour, veteran batsman Fawad Alam starts trending on social media with fans and pundits lamenting and at the same time outraging on the fact that Alam is still being given a chance to play for his country despite scoring heavily on a consistent basis in domestic cricket year-after-year.

But, if Shoaib Akhtar is to be believed, we might not have to wait for long before we see Alam back in Pakistan colours. Speaking on his Youtube channel, the former fast bowler said, “I am giving you a piece of breaking news. Fawad Alam will be playing the Test series against Sri Lanka. Believe that.” 

 Shoaib Akhtar hails Fawad Alam for his resilience

It is not easy for any cricketer to keep himself motivated like Alam has after repeated snubs by the selectors. The right-hander has racked up more than 12000 FC runs at an average of 56.57 and is still to play a Test match since 2009. 

Akhtar paid homage to Alam for his resilience and character and said, “They say that you should work so hard in silence that your success blows your trumpet. He (Fawad) has worked so hard his success is now screaming that ‘okay you do not play me for seven years? It’s fine. Now I will work so hard that I would make it impossible for you to ignore me’,” said the former fast bowler.

Pakistan are scheduled to host Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series on home soil and it will be interesting to see whether Fawad Alam gets a recall to the national side.