Talented Pakistan domestic cricketer Fazal Subhan drives pickup van for living

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently came up with an overhauling plan of its country’s cricket and one of its moves was to dismantle the departmental cricket culture. It met a strong objection as many felt this would render many players at the domestic level jobless and create an economic hardship for them. That the criticism was not out of place became evident recently when a first-class cricketer – Fazal Subhan – was seen driving a pick-up van in Karachi to meet his survival needs.

The story of 31-year-old Fazal came to the fore after a sports journalist posted a video of him. Fazal, who has scored a double century in first-class cricket and has a strike-rate of 131 above in the T20s and was considered for a national berth, said he has inconsistent employment nowadays.

“Yes, I drive this [pickup] for bhara (fare). This is seasonal work. Some days there is a lot of work, and sometimes there is nothing for 10 days,” Fazal told the reporter while sitting behind the wheels of his rented pickup van.

“I worked so hard to play for Pakistan. During departmental cricket, we were drawing a salary of Rs 100,000 but since the departments have shut down we are down to Rs 30,000-35,000, which is not enough to survive,” the cricketer, who played for Habib Bank Limited, said.

“I am grateful that at least I have this job right now because of the way things are, who knows if I would even have this tomorrow. We have no choice; we have to do something for our children.”

Fazal, who last played a domestic game in September 2018 and averages almost 33 in first-class games, said it is not just him but many other cricketers are going through a similar ordeal. “There are hundreds of cricketers like me. Some are riding bikes with Careem, some are driving pickups, and some are stuck in companies.”

Fazal Subhan played for Pakistan U19 and almost made it to the national team

Speaking about his career, Fazal said: “I played for Pakistan Under-19 team, and I also played for Pakistan A. I appeared in 42 first-class matches and was among the top five for two years. I played the home series in Lahore against India. I had played thrice in the series, and scored 39, an unbeaten 22 and once I was out for naught.”

“Once I was in the frame for a Pakistan call-up. I was told by the board to get ready. I had my passport scanned and everything but then I don’t know what happened,” he added. Fazal’s story earned a strong reaction from the country’s cricketing fraternity with veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal calling it “sad and heartbreaking”.

While Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former cricket captain, has asked the PCB to abolish departmental cricket saying it is a corrupt system that blocks talents, another former captain Javed Miandad was critical of the decision saying it served the livelihood for several cricketers. Responding to Miandad’s criticism, PM Khan said that he had his opinion, Geo TV reported.

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