Ramiz Raja opens up on ‘stunning failure’ of Fawad Alam

Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has termed middle-order batsman Fawad Alam’s first inning duck, in the second Test match against England, as a stunning failure.

Alam had waited for more than a decade since his previous Test innings, but lasted only four balls before Chris Woakes sent him packing with another lbw decision that was given on review by the television umpire.

“The entire Pakistan was praying for Fawad Alam to succeed because he had scored loads of runs in first-class cricket,” said Raja on his official YouTube channel.

“He was given a chance in difficult conditions but I have to admit that it was a stunning failure,” he added.

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Raja also hoped that Alam would come good in the second innings despite failing to perform on his first outing after a long time. 

“Even his zero will make the headlines because Pakistan fans wanted him to get an opportunity and when he finally did, he was not able to make it count. This once again proves the fact that this game is a great leveller. Hopefully he can put up a better show in the second innings,” he said.

Opener Abid Ali scored a half-century but England’s pacers used the overcast conditions to their advantage to restrict Pakistan to 126 for five at the close of a rain-hit opening day of the second Test at the Rose Bowl on Thursday.