Pakistan and Australia played out a tame draw in the first test of Australia’s historic tour to Pakistan. The Rawalpindi cricket stadium provided a dead pitch for the bowlers as only 14 wickets fell over the course of five days of the Test.
Pakistan posted a total of 476 runs for 4 wickets in the first innings. This was followed by an effort of 459 runs in the first innings by the Aussies. Pakistan batted a second time in the match and scored 252 runs without losing a wicket before the match ran out of time.
The batting effort resulted in the Pakistani player Fawad Alam not being recorded on the scoreboard for contributions in any of the three aspects of the game. As a 5th down batsman, Fawad Alam did not get a chance to bat in the match. Although he got a chance to dismiss Usman Khawaja by taking a catch at gully, he dropped it. The 36-year-old Pakistani player thus became the first player from his nation after 28 years (after Asif Mujtaba vs New Zealand) to play a complete Test without batting, bowling or catching for the entire duration of the game.
The fans immediately took to social media following Alam’s rare record. While a section of the followers did not let the chance to troll the player go by, others felt bad for him. The trolls humorously called it a “dream job’, as he gets paid 7.6 lakh rupees for literally doing nothing. Meanwhile, the second test is set to take place in Karachi, and Fawad Alam will be eager to play his part in the next match.
I feel sorry for Fawad Alam. He’s the only one who hasn’t got to bat on this pitch🥲 #PAKvAUS
— hazharoon (@hazharoon) March 8, 2022
Fawad Alam in this test match #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/Yo4nLkzuHw
— Udit (@udit_buch) March 8, 2022
Fawad Alam after this test. pic.twitter.com/SsPWjhT0iG
— Imy (@PakCricket_) March 8, 2022
fawad alam is me in inter college tournaments https://t.co/HlvoIpHjh7
— v (@ffsjaddu) March 8, 2022
एक Fawad Alam का दुख है जो खत्म ही नहीं होता
— Vaibhav Bhola 🇮🇳 (@VibhuBhola) March 8, 2022
Fawad Alam bags 7.6 lakh rupees as match fees without getting to bat, without bowling and without taking a catch. Dream job.
— Farooq Khan (@khanfarooq993) March 8, 2022
#PakvAus #Cricket
Bit of a thanks-for-coming game from Fawad Alam: didn't bat, dropped a catch, didn't bowl.#PAKvAUS
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) March 8, 2022
Oh Fawad Alam !!!! With a pitch full of runs you haven't played a single ball. Feeling sorry for you #AUSvsPAK
— Ammar Baloch (@amray__56) March 8, 2022
Poor Fawad Alam who didn't get an opportunity to bat on this flat pitch #AUSvsPAK #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/r7YbjjYP0Q
— Arnav Singh (@Arnavv43) March 8, 2022