Wasim Akram wants Fawad Alam in second Test against England

[Abdullah719]

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes the Men in Green should include Fawad Alam in the middle order in the second Test against England, starting from August 13 at Southampton.

“In the next match, you won’t find a turning wicket. You will play with one spinner and you will have to play with an extra batsman,” said Akram.

The Sultan of Swing, who took 414 and 502 wickets in 104 Tests and 356 ODIs, respectively, said Alam has an average of over 50 in first-class and should be given a chance in the second Test.

“If I was the captain, I would include Fawad Alam in the middle order,” he said.

The visitors lost the first Test match of the series by three wickets at Old Trafford, Manchester.

“We committed many tactical mistakes while bowling in the second innings,” said the former cricketer.

Wasim said that two senior batsmen Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq didn’t perform with the bat and “the team’s morale goes down if your senior players don’t perform”.

Azhar, who replaced wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed as Test captain, was severely criticized on social media and by former cricketers on TV shows over his poor batting form and captaincy.

Akram believes Azhar needs to improve his body language and communication skills.

“If we win the remaining Test matches he should continue as captain. It depends on his performance. Obviously, if we don’t win and he doesn’t perform then Pakistan Cricket Board have to look for someone else,” he said.

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40011234/wasim-akram-wants-fawad-alam-in-second-test-against-england

 

[Markhor]

Good to see Wasim calling out the two senior batsmen. Our ex-players generally give them a free pass.

 

[MenInG]

He asked for the same in Sri Lanka series....

 

[Major]

selection would be interesting now.

Asad Has performance in Australia so hard to be dropped.
Shadab played well with the bat so hard to be dropped

Now, maybe Fawad could come in place of Abid and Shift Azhar as opener maybe

 

[chacha kashmiri]

He'l be giving the players drinks in this game
He might be present in the third test if abid ali gets some more low scores

I can't see him replacing shafiq because shafiqs never been dropped and I can't see him replacing Shadab as he had a good test

 

[MenInG]

Southampton will be a nightmare place to make a comeback for Fawad.

 

[topspin]

Southampton will be a nightmare place to make a comeback for Fawad.

Why would it be a nightmare place?

Southampton is where I went for uni and really enjoyed my time there. It's like my second home.

 

[the Great Khan]

if we get battered in the next two I think Azhar is gone. Who knows who will take over then...

with regards to fawad, he should have been a veteran player by now. But alas.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

LOL this hack will fail badly that's for sure.Okay let's give him the farewell match.

 

[Kroll]

Why would it be a nightmare place?

Southampton is where I went for uni and really enjoyed my time there. It's like my second home.

Probably cos it will be a far cry from the pitches he’s used to playing on.

Then there is the added to pressure to perform due to being left out in the first test.

Poor guy could be next scapegoat if he gets picked.

 

[topspin]

Yeah I can imagine Azhar Ali using Misbah's script as he did for scapegoating Shadab.

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan obsession with carrying on past prime players , will always continue to hurt them. You need to play players on form not on past. Azhar , Aasad , Yasir all three need to be dropped.

 

[Zaz]

selection would be interesting now.

Asad Has performance in Australia so hard to be dropped.
Shadab played well with the bat so hard to be dropped

Now, maybe Fawad could come in place of Abid and Shift Azhar as opener maybe

What performance does shafiq has against australia and when?

 

[Major]

What performance does shafiq has against australia and when?

He scored a 60 and a 70ish

 

[MenInG]

Why would it be a nightmare place?

Southampton is where I went for uni and really enjoyed my time there. It's like my second home.

but I am not talking about the town!

Conditions (rain, movement) will make it tough for batsmen.

 

[Bhaijaan]

You have to make do with whatever chances yoy get but how unfair it is to get a chance when you're 1 down overseas against a top team. He gets to play and God forbid he has an average test match, let alone a poor one which can happen to the best of them, what are the odds he gets dropped again and gets neglected for many more years this time probably forever given he's not at the right side of the age graph either.

 

[Saj]

I don't think the 2 spinners plan will work in England.

6 batsmen 4 bowlers and a wk is probably the best bet.

 

[Zaz]

He scored a 60 and a 70ish

He also had a 0 and 9 in that series avging 35

If thats performance than crickets chnged and i mustve fallen aslp for the last decade or two

 

[Zaz]

Id rest naseem for sohail and bring him back the third test
Hes only 17 and his workload needs managing for the next 2-3 years The last thing we want is to overbowl him and he gets a serious injury

Shafiq gets one last chance before hes dropped for good Fawad in for shadab and Sohail in for naseem my changes

 

[ManFan]

selection would be interesting now.

Asad Has performance in Australia so hard to be dropped.
Shadab played well with the bat so hard to be dropped

Now, maybe Fawad could come in place of Abid and Shift Azhar as opener maybe

Going by your standards for keeping Asad, even Yasir scored higher on the tour to Australia.

 

[shamaan]

Id rest naseem for sohail and bring him back the third test
Hes only 17 and his workload needs managing for the next 2-3 years The last thing we want is to overbowl him and he gets a serious injury

Shafiq gets one last chance before hes dropped for good Fawad in for shadab and Sohail in for naseem my changes

I'd defo wouldnt replace naseem for sohail espically if sohail ain't oppening the bowling.

But yes I'd go fawad for shadab

 

[Major]

Going by your standards for keeping Asad, even Yasir scored higher on the tour to Australia.

What did you expected from Asad? He scored enough in two innings, would any of his replacement scored higher than him?

 

[leatherface58]

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...al1=span;team=7;template=results;type=batting

Over the last two years, Shafiq averages 36 which is mediocre for a middle order player with so much experience but the worrying thing is no one except Babar and Masood average more than 40. Abid Ali has played just 4 matches and looked off-color in the first test and Shadab is not a top order test bat. I guess they want to be absolutely sure that Fawad fails when they will pick him.

No reason for someone averaging 50+ to not even get a look-in considering the captain is averaging 26 over the last 2 years.

 

[Local.Dada]

I have nothing but sympathies for Fawad Alam. In fact he might end up being a bigger hero forever if he sits on the bench.

The way I have seen every Pakistan ex cricketer hyping him as a solution for everything from COVID to Pakistan middle order issues, I am sure it is immense pressure on a guy making a comeback. Forget about a new player it is even harder on a guy making a comeback.

He definitely is an unenviable situation.

 

[Greenstorm]

Fawad is even worse than Shafiq although he can perform better than Azhar. If wood is not playing next match, Fakhar is a better choice.

 

[sweep_shot]

Fawad Alam should replace Shadab Khan. Pakistan have to try something different.

 

[hitthestump]

Id rest naseem for sohail and bring him back the third test
Hes only 17 and his workload needs managing for the next 2-3 years The last thing we want is to overbowl him and he gets a serious injury

Shafiq gets one last chance before hes dropped for good Fawad in for shadab and Sohail in for naseem my changes

Sohail isn't fit enough to be part of a 4 bowler strategy though.

 

[MoFresh23]

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes the Men in Green should include Fawad Alam in the middle order in the second Test against England, starting from August 13 at Southampton.

“In the next match, you won’t find a turning wicket. You will play with one spinner and you will have to play with an extra batsman,” said Akram.

The Sultan of Swing, who took 414 and 502 wickets in 104 Tests and 356 ODIs, respectively, said Alam has an average of over 50 in first-class and should be given a chance in the second Test.

“If I was the captain, I would include Fawad Alam in the middle order,” he said.

The visitors lost the first Test match of the series by three wickets at Old Trafford, Manchester.

“We committed many tactical mistakes while bowling in the second innings,” said the former cricketer.

Wasim said that two senior batsmen Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq didn’t perform with the bat and “the team’s morale goes down if your senior players don’t perform”.

Azhar, who replaced wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed as Test captain, was severely criticized on social media and by former cricketers on TV shows over his poor batting form and captaincy.

Akram believes Azhar needs to improve his body language and communication skills.

“If we win the remaining Test matches he should continue as captain. It depends on his performance. Obviously, if we don’t win and he doesn’t perform then Pakistan Cricket Board have to look for someone else,” he said.

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40011234/wasim-akram-wants-fawad-alam-in-second-test-against-england

What is Wasim Akram talking about. He def does not know the conditions of Southampton pitch. In the UK it is the hottest month which is August. Southampton is a turning pitch. Spinners will come into play starting day 3. Saqlain mentioned in a video how Southampton pitch turns and it will suit Pakistan.

When India played again England in Southampton M Ali took 8 wickets

 

[MoFresh23]

I don't think the 2 spinners plan will work in England.

6 batsmen 4 bowlers and a wk is probably the best bet.

Don’t you think it’s too much load on the bowlers considering two out the four are young bowlers which are Shaheen and Naseem?

 

[Nervesofsteel]

It will be a tough pitch for Fawad Alam. Poor guy. I just hope if he plays...they don't make the poor guy open like his debut test.

 

[MenInG]

Looks like Fawad will replace Shadab Khan (as per media reports) - wise move?

 

[adzzy786]

I’m currently staying in Southampton for a few days and I can tell you the weather is extremely hot at the moment. It has even really hot for the last few days, but then again with English weather things can change very quickly. Apparently will be raining over next couple days.

On a side note, wish it wasn’t COVID situation would have gone to watch the game!

 

[MenInG]

Journalists seem convinced that he will be in the XI....100th time lucky?

 

[Plumb]

Fawad should play in place of Asad but it ll never happen.
Abid needs a free pass for whole series and then decide.
Even if we play fawad in place of shadab it ll be fine but immense pressure on fawad to perform and if he fails people ll say “told ya Misbah is genius and knows fawad wont succeed” lol

 

[Saj]

Well they'll throw him in at some point when we know he is past his best.

By now he should have played about 50 Tests.