Pakistan-South Africa Series
Fawad hits ton on day 2, blames no one for losing 10 years
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Fawad Alam and Faheem Ashraf played knocks of 109 and 64 respectively on the second day of the opening Test against South Africa as Pakistan gained firm control on proceedings at the National Stadium on Wednesday. Fawad was caught at mid-wicket off Lungi Ngidi after batting for six hours, hitting nine boundaries and two sixes and grabbed a ton for the first time in home soil.
With the third century of Fawad's career, he also signed up for an Elite Club. He is the second batsman to turn every half-ton to hundred. Earlier, the record was held only by Ravi Bopara of England.
At stumps on day two, Pakistan's score read 308/8 with Hasan Ali (11*) and Nauman Ali (6*) still at the crease. The hosts have extended their lead to 88 over the Proteas with two wickets in the bag.
The experienced batsman Fawad Alam has said that he doesn’t blame anyone for the loss of his important 10 years of his cricket career.
While talking to the media Fawad said, whatever he went through was just his “fate and nothing else”.
“I have never blamed anyone for not being picked in past. I have always maintained whatever is written for me is my fate. I never lost hope because I knew that there is always a light at the end of the dark tunnel.” he said
“I don’t know what would’ve happened if I was playing for Pakistan in all those years. Maybe I wouldn’t have got this respect that I have earned today from everyone.” he added.
After making a debut hundred in Sri Lanka in 2009, Fawad played just twice more that year before being dropped for 10 years and 259 days. He got back in Test cricket against England in August last year. He didn’t perform well in that series. Followed by a series in New Zealand, he scored his second hundred in that series.
Despite scoring heavily in Pakistan's domestic matches, he was constantly overlooked, primarily because of his peculiar stance facing front-on to the bowler before turning side-on when playing the ball.