LAHORE: Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam has backed the left-handed middle-order batter, Fawad Alam, following a dip in his performance in the home series against Australia.
Babar, while talking to the media ahead of the third Test of the ongoing Benaud-Qadir Trophy, has opened up about Fawad’s recent failures in the historic home series against Australia.
“Fawad Alam is an experienced batter and I believe that he knows how to make a comeback,” he said.
The 27-years-old captain, when asked about playing in his home ground against tough opposition like Australia, said he can not explain his feelings in words. However, is confident of claiming the historic series by winning the Lahore Test.
“I can not express my feelings in words for playing in my home ground. Lahore is hosting a Test match after a gap of thirteen years, so we will try to win it,” he said.
“We will play for the win and will try our best to produce a result,” he said.
Babar then commented about him bowling in the longest format of the game said, he used to bowl before and the change is beneficial in Test cricket.
Pakistan captain then commented about the home side’s performance in the second Test, said the team gave ‘tough time’ to Australia.
It is pertinent to mention here that the third Test between Pakistan and Australia will roll into action from March 21 to March 25.
READ: Sunny Edwards beats Muhammad Waseem, defends IBF Flyweight Title
KARACHI: Test cricketer Fawad Alam shared that he watched Australia from the stands when last time they came to the country back in 1998.
In a presser here on Wednesday, Fawad said it feels great to represent Pakistan in a historic home series against Australia.
“Last time when Australia played in Pakistan, I watched the match from stands as a fan. This time when they are coming, I am preparing as a player. It is a great feeling,” he said.
“Our people missed watching them in our grounds. They are equally excited for this series and good cricket awaits them,” he added.
Talking about team’s preparations, Fawad spoke about scenario-based training sessions. “Our training camp here was effective for all the players. Saqi Bhai and Yousaf Bhai worked with players, giving different scenarios to them,” the cricketer shared.
“Scenario-based training is not completely different. It is like normal training, the scenario just adds match-like feelings to it. For example, batters get scenarios, bowlers are also given different tasks. So, it is how it goes and helps players in preparations,” he concluded.
It must be noted here that Australia is coming to Pakistan for the first time in 24 years to play three Tests, as many ODIs and one-off T20I.
DUBAI: Pakistani cricketers Fawad Alam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Hasan Ali have been named in International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Test Team of 2021.
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson is the captain of 11-men Test team of 2021 named by the ICC.
ICC Test Team of 2021
Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka), Rohit Sharma (India), Marnus Labuschagne (Australia), Joe Root (England), Kane Williamson (c) (New Zealand), Fawad Alam (Pakistan), Rishabh Pant (wk) (India), Ravichandran Ashwin (India), Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand), Hasan Ali (Pakistan), Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
CHITTAGONG: Tajiul Aslam dismantled Pakistan’s batting order to get Tigers in the commanding position but Bangladesh top order failed in the second innings.
Pakistan, resuming at the overnight score of 145/0, could not make the most of the situation as the debutant opener Abdullah Shafique was sent back to the pavilion without disturbing the scoreboard as the batter went out without scoring a run on day 3. He was trapped in legs on 52 by Tajiul.
Abid Ali was looking firm at one end as the batter went on to score a magnificent century (133 off 282 deliveries) but Green shirts’ strong middle order kept tumbling at the other end and the side lost their five wickets for just 61 runs. Pakistan’s all-rounder and lower-order batter – Faheem Ashraf showed resistance but he was too sent back to the pavilion on 38 by Tajiul. Pakistan’s tail did little to resist and Pakistan in the end were bowled out for 286, handing the Tigers 44 runs lead.
Pakistani skipper – Babar Azam could not keep going in Bangladesh as the batter got out for just 10, wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan scored just 5 (38). Fawad Alam could only score 8 (15) and Pakistan’s most experienced batter in the side – Azhar Ali, bagged a golden duck.
Tajiul proved out to be the stand-out bowler for the Tigers as the spinner took 7 wickets for 116. Ebadat Hossain bagged two wickets. Whereas, Mehidy Hassan dismissed one batter.
Bangladesh started their second innings with a 44-runs lead but their top order failed to capitalize on the given opportunity as they had no answers to Pakistan’s bowling attack. Tigers lost their first wicket with just 14 on the board as their opening batter Shadman Islam was sent back to the pavilion on 1 by Shaheen Shah Afridi. A ball later the bowler dismissed Najmul Hossain Shanto for a duck. Hassan Ali then also joined the party as the bowler dismissed the skipper Mominul Haque for a duck.
Bangladesh at the end of day-three, finished with 39/4 with the lead of 83 runs. Wicket-keeper batter Mushfiqur Rahim, not-out on 12, and Yasir Ali (8*) will resume the innings tomorrow for the Tigers.
Afridi, who dismantled the Bangladesh’s top-order, took three wickets for just 6 runs. Hasan Ali took one wicket for 19.
READ: Hasan takes fifer before Abid-Abdullah set Pakistan on top