Fawad Alam vows to silence critics ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

Pakistan middle-order batsman Fawad Alam has vowed to silence his critics, ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka on home soil.

While speaking to media in Karachi, Alam was hopeful of putting up a good show in the upcoming series.

“I’m extremely happy to be part of the national side once again and it’s difficult to express this feeling in words. There is pressure on me to perform but my job is to tackle it. Hopefully I can come good with the bat and silence my critics,” said Fawad. “I played my debut match against Sri Lanka and once again I will be playing against the same side, which is why it almost feels as if I will be playing my debut match again.”

The left-hander was also glad to see Test cricket’s return to Pakistan with the visit of Sri Lankan team.

“Sri Lanka’s visit of Pakistan will send a positive message to the entire cricketing fraternity,” he said. “I urge the fans to turn up in numbers and support the team.”

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Speaking about his unorthodox style of batting, he said: “My batting style was criticised and compared with that of Chanderpaul but the West Indies player advised me to answer the critics by scoring runs.”

Alam returned from a decade in the Test wilderness on Saturday after Pakistan recalled the middle-order batsman for the two-match home series against Sri Lanka later this month.

The 34-year-old replaced Iftikhar Ahmed, who managed only 44 runs in four innings in the recent tour of Australia where Pakistan lost both Tests.

He played the last of his three Test matches in New Zealand in 2009 and was last seen in Pakistan colours in a 2015 One-day International (ODI) in Bangladesh.