PAK vs SL: Netizens irked over Fawad’s exclusion from the Playing XI
KARACHI: A number of cricket fans have expressed disappointment at the exclusion of left-handed batsman Fawad Alam from Pakistan’s recently announced Playing XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Fawad, who had been an integral part of the Green Shirts red ball squad since his historic return to international cricket in 2020 after a gap of almost 11 years, has now withdrawn from the national team for the first Test, scheduled to start on Saturday.
The left-handed batsman, who only had a century to his name before his iconic return, shattered four centuries in just 18 innings and cemented his place on the team.
Then the 36-year-old had a series to forget when Australia toured Pakistan after a 24-year gap in April this year. The left-handed batsman could only score 33 runs in two games.
As a result of his slump, the left-handed batsman has been unable to earn a place in the team’s Playing XI, as Salman Ali Agha will make his Test debut tomorrow.
Following this, a number of cricket fans took to Twitter and questioned his exclusion from the Playing XI.
A sportswriter questioned the stance of backing struggling pacemaker Hasan Ali as he dropped Fawad after failing solo against Australia.
“Go back to Hasan Ali and leave Fawad Alam? Why is this facility not available to all players? Did Fawad just miss Australia and get eliminated? If there are decisions based on malice, then fate will be difficult, friendship and making decisions out of malice, brother, ”he wrote.
حسن علی کو اعتماد دیں اور فواد عالم کو ڈراپ کردیں؟ یہ اعتماد کی سہولت ہر پلیئر کو حاصل کیوں نہیں ہے ؟ فواد عالم صرف آسٹریلیا کے خلاف ناکام اور ڈراپ ؟ بدنیتی فیصلے ہوں گے تو منزل مشکل ہو گی دوستی اور بدنیتی سے کر فیصلے کریں بھائی ھائی ھائی pic.twitter.com/ZKlGGz9axZ
— Imran Siddique (@imransiddique89) July 15, 2022
On the other hand, a cricket fan expressed his delight at Agha’s Test debut and also lamented the fact that Fawad did not receive the support he deserved from Pakistan captain Babar Azam.
Although I am happy for Salman Ali Agha, but at the same time I am shocked and sad for Fawad Alam because he did not receive the support he deserved from the boss.#FawadAlam #SLvPAK #WTC23
— 🇵🇰 | Hassan™🏏🎮 (@HassanEmpire007) July 15, 2022
Another cricket fan questioned the wisdom of the election after mentioning Fawad’s recent performance.
#FawadAlam made a Come Back in the Playing XI after 11 years, 4 back to back 💯 on 4 consecutive tours. He was named in the ICC Test Team of the Year last year But 2/3 bad innings have dropped him again from the XI which tells you about the merit of this Simply Pathetic Team 👎 pic.twitter.com/AmjDceeqRN
– Arslan Sonuu (@arslany2j) July 15, 2022
One cricket fan criticized Babar for motivating Virat Kohli, while on the other hand he benched Fawad after two poor matches.
کوہلی کی ہمّت بڑھا دی اور اپنا کھلاڑی صرف دو ٹیسٹ میں رنز نہ کرے ا،ای د #PAKvsSL #SLvPAK #PAKvSL #fawadalam#BabarAzam𓃵 #BabarAzam
— Danish Naeem Abbasi (@abbasidanish) July 15, 2022
Several netizens quoted Babar’s message to former Indian captain Kohli: “This too shall pass. Stay strong” as he expressed his solidarity with Fawad for being dropped from the national team.
This too shall pass. Stay strong. #FawadAlam pic.twitter.com/Sts27vFDqb
— Saifi 🇵🇰 (@Saifi_views) July 15, 2022
READ: Agha will debut when Pakistan field Playing XI for the first test against Sri Lanka
