Inzamam ul-Haq, Pakistan’s former chief selector, was attacked by fans on social platforms, demanding answers from the former Pakistan captain after Fawad Alam scored a century against a good South Africa.
Fawad Alam, a name everyone is too familiar with, scored his third century against a very good South Africa pace attack. Fans from all around the world did not wait and started praising the left-handed batsman for his magnificent performance, in which it helped Pakistan take the first innings lead of 88 in the first Test.
Pakistan, after bowling out South Africa for 220 on Day 1, quickly found themselves at limping 33-4 by the end of the day. It was afraid that Pakistan would bundle out for under 100. However, Fawad Alam displayed a performance that received praises from all around the world. Along with fifties from Faheem Ashraf (64) and Azhar Ali (51), Pakistan ended the day with 308-8, 88 runs ahead.
The strong performances from Fawad Alam, Faheem Ashraf and Azhar Ali brought Pakistan back into the match and give them a chance to stretch the lead further on Day 3.
Many fans were overjoyed with Fawad Alam scoring century against a very good South Africa attack. There were fans who did not wait and quickly criticized the former selectors and management for not giving Fawad Alam a chance when he deserved.
Fawad Alam has been criticized for his batting stance and technique. The batsmen however, still piled up a lot of runs in cricket.
Fans demanded answers from Inzamam ul-Haq
Inzamam ul-Haq served Pakistan’s national chief selector role from 2016 to 2019. Fans from all around trolling and demanding answers from him after what he given a statement in 2018.
In 2018, He was called up by Inzamam ul-Haq among the 25 probables in the fitness camp ahead of the Ireland and England tour, only to be overlooked yet again. This brought large round of criticism from fans and expert on picking Fawad Alam and then dropping him from the main squad.
When Inzamam ul-Haq was questioned by many people, he replied he has seen “better players than him.”
“Dropping any player doesn’t mean we are disregarding them. It’s easy to pick players following scorecards or statistics, but there are many more things we take into consideration. I am not sure why Fawad wasn’t picked in the past before me but if you ask me about my tenure as chief selector, I have seen better players.”
Inzamam-ul-Haq’s also said that he would only be a domestic player like England’s Mark Ramprakash, who featured in 461 first-class matches and scored 35,659 runs, which included 114 centuries and 147 half-centuries, at an average of 53.14.
After Inzamam ul-Haq stepped down from chief selector sole, may asked Fawad Alam whether he would like to respond to his statement. He replied that it is a “big honor” for him.
“He was a big player and played many matches for his country also. However much I’ve played, he played a lot more than me and made more than 100 hundreds, I don’t even have half that many. I will try my best to perform and prove people wrong.”
He even replied that his father supported him unconditionally and that in particular would always told him that “do not lose heart.”
In an interesting turn of events in 2020, Inzamam ul-Haq on his YouTube channel said that it was time to “support him (Fawad Alam) unconditionally.” This again brought a lot of criticism from fans, saying how can he support him like that when he himself never gave Fawad the chance.
Before he was called for fitness test when Pakistan were touring England and Ireland, he was also called in 2015 series where England tour UAE. He was with the team but did not play a single Test match before being dropped from the side.
It is still a mysterious case of Fawad Alam and former selectors and managements of why he wasn’t picked before. During all his time in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Fawad Alam piled up runs after runs but was ignored without proper explanation.
Fans from everywhere are trolling and demanding from former star batsman Inzamam ul-Haq and will keep on asking questions unless he gives a reply.
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