ICC Champions Trophy 2017 – Discarded Batsman Opens Up About Corruption In Pakistan Cricket
Nov 2, 2023 at 3:52 PM
If there was one cricketer these days, who could be termed “unlucky” for giving it his absolute best in the domestic circuit but still not being able to make it to the international level, it had to be Pakistan’s, Fawad Alam.
The left-handed batsman has topped the run charts in the domestic arena in Pakistan for years now, but for reasons best known to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and other members of the think tank, Alam hasn’t been given any chance to prove his skills at the highest level.
Way back in 2009 against Sri Lanka, the southpaw burst on to the international arena with a century on his Test debut, but like so many other Pakistani batsmen, faded away in no time.
However, Alam never gave up on his dream and slogged it out completely in the First Class circuit. Despite averaging a colossal 56.51, Alam remains on the hinges and surprisingly is never trusted for the international arena.
The talented batsman, after being ignored for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, finally opened up and mentioned, as corruption being a rampant factor behind his exclusion from the side.
“I know what is going on and I would land in a lot of trouble if I spilled the beans,” said Alam recently about his exclusion. “I know what is going on behind the scenes and if I tell the truth then there will be a huge storm and backlash so I guess it’s best to keep quiet on this topic.”
“There are obviously some reasons why I am not being given another chance, despite performing consistently in domestic cricket. I guess this could simply be a case of ‘liking’ and ‘disliking’, but I cannot say for sure. In the past, when the selectors recalled me, I performed and then I was dropped again without any reason,” the southpaw added.
“You don’t make players by continually picking them and then dropping them. You shatter the confidence of players if you keep ignoring their performances. If you perform for your country and do well and then get dropped, well that is just confusing and demoralizing.”