'Who will be answerable for not selecting Fawad Alam all these years?' - Shoaib Akhtar questions selectors

Fawad Alam has recently made his comeback to international cricket. After being out of the Pakistan Test squad for almost a decade, the 35-year-old was recalled back into the side. On Wednesday, he notched up his third Test ton, and the discussions of him not getting opportunities started to float again. 

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar put a tweet congratulating the batsman for his knock but also asked an important question. After Fawad Alam revived Pakistan’s falling batting unit and took them to a position where they could win the Test match. Pakistan is currently playing South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi.

As Fawad scored his third Test century, Akhtar asked on Twitter who should be held responsible for not selecting Alam for all these years. Alam made his debut in 2009 in Sri Lanka. Opening the batting in that match, he scored a century in the second innings. However, he wasn’t selected as a regular after the first three matches. It took 11 years and several thousand runs in first-class cricket for him to make a comeback into the side. 

Great determination: Shoaib Akhtar credits Fawad Alam

“Another 100 by @iamfawadalam25 . So I’d like to know who will be answerable for not selecting him all these years? Great determination! #FawadAlam,” Akhtar tweeted. The fast-bowler also made a video for his YouTube channel in which he talked about the determination which the batsman has shown. 

Another 100 by @iamfawadalam25. So I'd like to know who will be answerable for not selecting him all these years?

Great determination! #FawadAlam

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) January 27, 2021

Alam has a first-class batting average of 56.12, which is in top three among all the players who are currently active cricketers. He has experience of playing for Pakistan in 26 T20Is and 38 ODIs as well, last of which he played way back in 2015. He has come in news for his unusual batting stance as well. 

After making his comeback, Alam had scored a fighting century in New Zealand. In the ongoing Test, he helped Pakistan to recover from 27 for 4 and reach a first-innings total of 378. His knock of 109 put South Africa in a backfoot position and helped Pakistan to get a first-innings lead of 158 runs. At the time of writing this, South Africa was just trailing by five runs and had managed 153 runs with a loss of one wicket.