Fawad Alam admits players will miss spectators: The veteran Pakistani player opened up on team’s support staff and playing without spectators.
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Veteran Pakistan batsman Fawad Alam recently opened up on the unparalleled excitement of representing Pakistan at the highest level. Currently in England, the southpaw is likely to play a Test match after a decade of turmoil in the domestic circuit.
“The excitement of wearing the Pakistan star logo is something that is unique. It’s a proud feeling to wear Pakistan colours as all of the club and First-class cricket you play is for the reason of playing for your country,” Alam was quoted as saying on Pakistan Cricket’s YouTube channel.
Alam, who has shared the dressing room with legendary Pakistan players in Waqar Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq in the past, considered himself fortunate to now play under them as coaches.
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“If you look at the support staff irrespective of their designations, there are some big names whom we have followed as children. Two [chief selector and head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis] of them are players with whom I have shared the dressing room.
“It’s god’s blessing that I got to learn from them when they were players and now when they are part of our support staff,” Alam said.
Fawad Alam admits players will miss spectators
Having scored 12,222 runs in 165 first-class matches at an average of 56.84, Alam has the highest average among all Pakistani batsmen. While it is unfortunate that the 34-year old player didn’t get to play a Test for all these years, what is even more unfortunate is that his much talked about comeback will happen in front of an empty stadium.
While Alam acknowledged that players will miss the fans inside the stadium, he was confident of well-wishers supporting them from home during the upcoming tour. “Fans have always supported us. I have personally received continuous support across social media platforms. It’s all because of their blessings that we our here.
Leaving Pakistan and our loved ones for the UK in these testing times but all for a cause. Hoping to see our sport unite us all during this global pandemic and to bring smiles and joy to our people. Please Pray for our well being and for this tour to be a successful one.
— Fawad Alam (@iamfawadalam25) June 28, 2020
“We’ll miss them a lot while playing in the COVID-19 era as no applauds from spectators creates a lot of difference. However, we know that your support will remain the same and you will be cheering for us in front of your TV sets,” Alam added.
Other than Alam, Pakistan batsman Imam-ul-Haq, former Australia batsman Matthew Hayden, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, fast bowler Pat Cummins and batsmen Usman Khawaja and Matthew Wade, veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh, veteran New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor and veteran England seamer James Anderson have all been vocal about playing top-level cricket without spectators.
