Fawad Alam has a career average of 57, says Misbah-ul-Haq

Fawad Alam is back in Pakistan’s Test squad after more than 10 years out of the red-ball team.

The left-handed batsman is part of the 16-member squad that will face Sri Lanka in two Tests in Rawalpindi and Karachi this month.

Pakistan’s head coach Misbah-ul-Haq on Saturday has announced the national team’s Test squad for the upcoming series to be played against Sri Lanka.

Fawad was selected in place of Iftikhar Ahmed, who was unable to make an impact in the Test series in Australia recently.

“Fawad’s selection is not based on just one series. It is an accumulation of five to six seasons. He has a career average of 57,” the coach said.

Misbah, before announcing the squad, also clarified that contrary to popular belief, he does not select the squad unilaterally and that the roster is assembled after thorough consultation.

“The perception is that there is a one-man show going on here. It is not like this at all. There are six selectors all of who have their say,” he said.

Fawad Alam has over 12,000 runs in First-Class cricket.

He has waited for almost a decade to make a comeback in red-ball cricket.

He last played his debut series against the same opposition back in 2009 where he also scored a century.

The islanders are scheduled to play a two-match Test series in Rawalpindi and Karachi.

Pakistan Squad: Azhar Ali (capt), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari.