After a career spanning close to 15 years, Pakistan’s cricket stalwart Fawad Alam has made the tough decision to step away from his international career due to a lack of consistent opportunities.
The 37-year-old cricketer, who embarked on his international journey back in 2007, has opted to continue his cricketing journey in the USA cricket circuit.
Throughout his career, Fawad Alam showcased his talent in 19 Tests, 38 One-Day Internationals, and 24 T20I Internationals for Pakistan. However, his appearances in the national side remained sporadic, with his last outing taking place during the Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle last year.
A recent report on Cricbuzz revealed that Fawad Alam is gearing up to represent the Chicago Kingsmen as a local player in the Minor League Cricket T20I, a developmental league associated with the recently-concluded Major League Cricket.
Notably, Fawad Alam is not alone in seeking new horizons. He joins the ranks of fellow Pakistani cricketers such as Hammad Azam, Sami Aslam, Saif Badar, and Mohammad Mohsin who have also chosen to relocate to the USA in search of better cricketing opportunities.
Nicholas Pooran faces penalty for ICC Code of conduct breach in 2nd T20I vs India
Alam’s contributions to Pakistan’s cricket landscape are undeniable, amassing a total of 2,171 runs in 81 international matches across various formats. His impressive average of 35.59 is bolstered by eight fifties and six centuries. The left-handed cricketer’s impact was equally significant in domestic cricket, accumulating an impressive 14,526 First-Class runs in 201 matches and 6,577 runs in 203 List-A games.
Fawad Alam’s journey to the red-ball format was one marked by dedication and consistency in the domestic circuit. After earning his place in the Test side in 2009, he made a memorable debut with a remarkable score of 168 against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
While Fawad Alam had to wait for a remarkable 11 years for a Test recall, he made his return to the international arena memorable with centuries against New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the West Indies.
However, his journey faced a hiccup with a dip in form during the home series against Australia in 2022, scoring only 33 runs across four innings. Unfortunately, his last appearance donning the Pakistan shirt saw him score just 25 runs in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.