'Fawad Amla or Fawad Alam?' - Rashid Latif compares the Pakistan batsman to Hashim Amla

Fawad Alam is currently one of the best batsmen in Pakistan domestic cricket but has been a victim of constant ignorance from the national selectors despite making a mountain of runs virtually every season. The 34-year-old last played for Pakistan in 2015 in an ODI against Bangladesh but has not played a Test since 2009, something which can be termed as an injustice by many.

Alam had a wonderful start to his Test career, making a century on debut against Sri Lanka from a difficult situation, but has only played just 3 Tests, all of which came in 2009. In 38 ODIs, he has 966 runs with the best score of 114* and 194 in 24 T20I matches. Meanwhile, in FC cricket, the Karachi played has slammed more than 12,000 runs with 34 tons to his name at an average of 56.84.

Fawad Alam or Amla? Asks Rashid Latif

Former Pakistani captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif has been a vocal supporter of the talent of Fawad, especially given his terrific run in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. In just 10 matches of the 2019 edition, he has 781 runs including four centuries and two half-centuries at a sensational average of 71 for Sindh. This may finally be enough to earn him a recall to the Test side against Sri Lanka in the upcoming series.

He, however, has gotten some support from Latif, who compared him with South African legend Hashim Amla in a tweet. “Fawad Amla or Fawad Alam? 4th century this season and 34th first-class hundred. @TheRealPCB @iamfawadalam25,” Latif tweeted.

Recently in an interview with Shahid Afridi, Alam admitted the constant rebuke has hurt him a lot but credited his father’s learnings which help him to keep going and not losing hope. “If I keep lamenting why I wasn’t picked then I wouldn’t be able to perform as I am currently and will move down the pegging order. I take it as a challenge and motivate myself that it’s ok if I didn’t get a chance this year, I’ll perform again in the next season.”

“And, it’s okay that I am not getting the chance to play for the country, my performances in domestic cricket are getting recognized at the world level, and I am very grateful for it,” the left-hander was quoted as saying in the YouTube video.

With Pakistan whitewashed on the tour of Australia and in the T20I series against Sri Lanka prior to that, Misbah-Ul-Haq’s tactics as head coach and player selections chief selector have come under severe criticism. It remains to be seen if Alam gets his due when Misbah announces the team for the two-match Lanka Test series.

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