Cricket News: Pakistan’s Fawad Alam Eyes 2011 World Cup
Pakistan’s left-handed batting all-rounder Fawad Alam has vowed to cement his place in the national team and book a place in the One-Day squad that will feature in the 2011 (fifty-over) World Cup.
Fawad made an outstanding Test debut with the bat in the second Test against Sri Lanka, smashing 168 runs in the second innings from the opening slot. However, other than that effort, he failed to do much in his next two Tests and was subsequently axed from the team after the opening Test of the three-match series against New Zealand last year.
He has made a return to the team for the two Twenty20 matches and five match One-Day International series that is set to take place in England after the conclusion of the Test series.
Fawad told the media that the limited overs series is an ideal opportunity for him to cement his spot in the national team, and he is looking forward to the challenge after gaining more experience of English conditions through his contract with a club side in the country.
Fawad stayed back in England to concentrate on his game and ensure that he prepares himself well for the international assignments in the country.
"I could have gone back to Pakistan, but I felt that playing some club cricket in England would be more beneficial. Woodhall Spa gave me the opportunity and I am very grateful to them," Alam said. "It has given me valuable match practice, the opportunity to maintain my levels of fitness and a chance to work on some technical issues as well. I've really enjoyed my stint in the ECB Premier league and have scored consistently and taken wickets too."
He added that the 2011 World Cup, to be staged in the subcontinent next year (co-hosted by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747), is his real target and his priority is to get the nod for the event and score big runs in the premier tournament that Pakistan won in 1992.
“The World Cup isn't too far away now and with series against England, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 prior to the premier one-day competition, I know that I have to deliver and that the competition for places is intense," said Fawad. He added that he has total faith in himself. "I have faith in my ability though and hope that the selectors give me the opportunity to deliver.”
However, it remains to be seen if he is chosen in Pakistan’s playing eleven in the series, considering the abundance of talent in the limited overs squad that includes some real talent in Captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, Mohammad Yousuf, Umar Akmal and Salman Butt, besides wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.
"I hope I get a chance to play in the Twenty20 matches and the one-day series [in England], especially as the World Cup is only six or so months away. It's time to ensure that I perform well whenever I am given the opportunity, as preparations for the World Cup are now in full swing."
Alam has thus far played 17 ODIs, scoring a total of 327 runs at an average of 40 runs per innings. His highest score is 63 not-out and he has a total of two half-centuries under his belt.
He has also featured in 20 Twenty20 matches for the men in green, scoring 165 runs at an average of 20 runs per innings.
If he has to cement his spot in Pakistan’s limited overs team, he needs to capitalize fully on the opportunities that come his way before the World Cup.
The competition, as he himself admitted, is tough in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s ODI line-up; hence, Fawad needs to put in a special effort to prolong his fledgling career in international cricket. Let us see if he has the determination to do so.
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