ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced national team’s 16-member squad including five uncapped players for the series against Ireland and England. But there’s a catch – the squad doesn’t have Fawad Alam who is the top domestic performer. The expulsion prompted cricket enthusiasts to turn their guns on Inzimam-ul-Haq for allegedly preferring his nephew over Alam.
Twitter was in virtual meltdown following official statement of the Pakistan Cricket Board unveiling name of the 16 players was released. Cricket fans went berserk over that fact that Inzimam ul Haq, chief selector of Pakistan cricket team, excluded Fawad’s name in favor of his nephew Imam ul Haq to the list.
Left-hander Imam, who made his ODI debut last October was preferred over Fawad Alam who scored 10,742 runs in 145 first-class matches with the average of 55.37.
The performance meter!
Fawad Alam
Imamul Haq
Inzimam has, however, not yet issued any statement over Fawad Alam’s expulsion.
Fans took to Twitter to speak against this perceived ‘injustice’ and started tweeting with the hashtag #justice4FawadAlam.
Inzi’s nephew Imam ul Haq is travelling to England in the squad.
His FC average is more than 20 runs less than Fawad Alam’s.
Both left handers.
Explain that one to me please?
— Dennis Sutherland-Peever (@DennisCricket_) April 15, 2018
A very good morning to everyone except Inzi bhai for not selecting Fawad Alam.
— mk. (@YarMoeed) April 16, 2018
If merit and form were the criteria, Fawad Alam would have been in the Pakistan 🇵🇰 squad. Inzamam nephew Imam-ul-Haq is talented but inexperienced, on England tour you need talent and experience and #FawadAlam has both. pic.twitter.com/cfGnJpg90Q
— Ahmed Raza (@Ahmedrtareen) April 16, 2018
– Imam ul haq FC average: 34.46 (selected)
Fawad Alam FC average: 55.37 (not selected)Inzamam ul haq’s nephew:
Imam ul haq ✔️
Fawad Alam ✖️ –— Green Caps (@GreenCaps9) April 16, 2018
Fawad Alam “It seems other players runs in domestic cricket are of a greater importance & more relevant to selectors” #Cricket
— IPL2018 IPLT20 Cricket (@IPLUpdate_) April 16, 2018
feel disappointed for Fawad and Bilal Asif
— Ian Pont (@Ponty100mph) April 15, 2018
No Fawad Alam? wasn’t he scoring alot in domestics? @iamfawadalam25
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) April 15, 2018
Fawad Alam is 32. How old was misbah when retired? How old was younis when he retired? How is Fawad alam past tense? As i said he is the most consistent player over a decade. Hit 3 sixes in PSL and you get selected for the national team. This is what defines silly selection.
— Ahad Hameed (@_AhadHameed) April 15, 2018
chief selector @InziTheLegend exposed again, after some flops like A. shehzad kind of selections in past, now once again prefering his nephew over @iamfawadalam25 . Inam’s FC average is more than 20 runs less than Fawad Alam’s. Disgusting!#Justice4FawadAlam #CricketerFawadAlam
— Muraash ♡ (@Muraash4) April 16, 2018
According to Media reports acclaimed former cricketer Wasim Akram also shared his disbelief over not pick Alam for the team he said;
“Players play domestic circuit in view of getting an opportunity to play international cricket. I cant understand why Fawad is not getting an opportunity, he is still out from the squad despite scoring runs in domestic on an average of 50 in the last three-four years. It’s beyond me.”
On a lighter note — Inzimam has ignited the attention of social media trolls
انگلینڈ کی ٹیسٹ سیریز کے لئے ٹیم کا اعلان کردیا گیا۔۔۔ چیف سلیکٹر انضمام الحق کے بھانجے امام الحق بھی چُن لئےگئے۔۔ فواد عالم ڈراپ
Fawad Alam pic.twitter.com/FO1BU2GX5z— Ikram Ul Haq Azzam (@Ikram_Azzam) April 16, 2018
The team squad consists of Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), Azhar Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Sami Aslam, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Saad Ali, Asad Shafiq, Usman Salahuddin, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali and Faheem Ashraf.
 has finally announced the list of 16 selected players for the series against Ireland and England and Fawad Alam is not in it.){kind=link}