AZ
3rd July 2010, 20:49
We are delighted to present an exclusive interview with Pakistani left hand batsman Fawad Alam. Fawad is an upcoming star of Pakistan cricket and was part of the World Cup winning Pakistan team of 2009. So far he has represented Pakistan on 41 occasions and is now currently a member of the Twenty20 squad on tour in England.
Here, he speaks to PakPassion.net about a number of topics including his experiences in the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup, his personal goals and ambitions, and his response to being dropped from the ODI and Test squad.
PakPassion: How did you feel when you found that you have been dropped from the test squad of England tour? Were you surprised on your exclusion?
Fawad Alam: Its part of cricket, it happens to every cricketer. I am not the only one who it has happened to. Honestly, I am not very worried about it. I am now working even harder to get my spot back in the side. I am even more determined, and I will definitely come back.
PakPassion: You are in the Twenty20 squad which is going to England, what are your expectations? Do you think you can deliver in these three Twenty20's?
Fawad Alam: Inshallah, I am very hopeful and optimistic. I am hoping to do well in England. We have a very solid Twenty20 team, and are going there to win.
PakPassion: Since Waqar has been appointed Pakistan's headcoach have you ever spoken to him or even Shahid Afridi since he became captain? If you have then what did you have to say to them?
Fawad Alam: No not really, I haven’t spoken to them yet. In the end, what matters the most is my performance. I hope I will deliever my message via my performance.
PakPassion: How was your experience in the recently concluded Twenty20 World Cup which was held in the West Indies?
Fawad Alam: It was a great experience. This was my third consecutive Twenty20 World Cup and like the others, I enjoyed it a lot. Apart from enjoying the tournament, I learnt a lot from this World Cup.
PakPassion: Apart from cricket what interests do you have?
Fawad Alam: At the moment it's only cricket. Cricket is my first priority and I am completely focused on it, as I want to establish myself and develop my career. Besides, we don’t really have time for anything else, as our schedule is quite busy.
PakPassion: Do you watch any other sports apart from cricket? Are you a fan of, or play any other sports? Have you been following the FIFA World Cup?
Fawad Alam: I watch a lot of cricket. Sometimes I watch football on television. However, at the moment it's only about cricket.
PakPassion: When you are on foreign tours then how does it feel going back and forth to hotels. Don't you get homesick?
Fawad Alam: I enjoy it a lot! Basically it's part of our job and it comes with the package of being a professional cricketer. Tours and everything that comes with that is part of our life. It is definitely not hectic for me, it comes with the job.
PakPassion: When you travel with the team who do you hang around the most? What do you guys do in your spare time?
Fawad Alam: Alhamdulillah, I get along with everyone in the team very well. We have a bunch of four-five guys who go out for shopping, going out for dinner. In my opinion, it’s a very good thing about our team; we enjoy each other’s company, on and off the field.
PakPassion: Who's your best friend on the team? And who's the funniest person on the team?
Fawad Alam: I get along well with everyone in the side. I won’t say there is anyone I am particularly close to. All of them are my friends whether it's seniors or juniors, everyone is alike.
PakPassion: Who is your favourite cricketer?
Fawad Alam: My all-time favourite cricketer is Saeed Anwar. Saeed Bhai has been a huge inspiration for me and I always loved to watch his batting, he was simply brilliant.
PakPassion: Do you imitate him or his playing style?
Fawad Alam: (laughs) Well my style is quite unique! There is no way I can imitate him as he was simply a great player. I followed him a lot and I speak to him quite often. He has given me plenty of good advice and guidance over the years.
PakPassion: Many former players have criticized your technique and have felt that it will expose you on seaming or bouncy tracks. How would you respond? Any intentions of making adjustments?
Fawad Alam: I don’t feel that there is anything wrong with my technique. I am OK, I’ve made runs with this technique and do not think there is anything wrong with it; people should take note of that.
PakPassion: How is your bowling progressing? Do you think you can fill the role of an all-rounder?
Fawad Alam: Inshallah, I will prove my ability in both bowling and batting when I get a full chance. I am equally focused on both my batting and bowling; I am not given any one aspect particular importance over the other.
PakPassion: Would you consider playing for an English county next year and get experience in playing in English seaming and swinging conditions?
Fawad Alam: Definitely I would love to play county cricket. In fact, I’ve played three-four years of league cricket already, and would love to play in England again.
PakPassion: What kind of experience was it?
Fawad Alam: It was a great eye-opener; it really helped my batting. They really look up to you as you are the overseas professional cricketer, and you need to show a lot of mental toughness. Apart from mental toughness you need to spend a lot of time at the wicket and play the overs. It’s a great thing for a batsman.
PakPassion: You have been fluctuated a lot in the batting order. So what's your preferred position in the side?
Fawad Alam: I prefer to bat in the middle order at either number four or five or five. But I will bat wherever required in the lineup.
PakPassion: As you have played all three formats of the game for Pakistan, is there any particular format you enjoy playing in the most?
Fawad Alam: One cannot focus on any one cricket format over the other. A good and professional player is one who can play in any format, and in any situation. I have no preference, I enjoy all three formats, be it Twenty20, ODIs or Tests. I always give my very best in all three formats. It is a huge honour for me to represent Pakistan in any format, and I won’t let the country down in any of them by concentrating on one over the other.
PakPassion: What or who has been your biggest influence on your career so far?
Fawad Alam: My biggest influence I would say is myself. I’m a self-made cricketer. In my opinion, the best coach one could ever get is himself. One works a lot on technique etc, and various people come into that as well, but no-one in particular has had that kind of role in my cricketing development.
PakPassion: You are one of the players who is signed up by Aces Middle East. Can you confirm what they are specifically working with you on and how you think they can help you with your career?
Fawad Alam: Aces Middle East are my management company. They represent me in negotiations with potential sponsors, possible future domestic teams that may be interested in my signature. They are professionals in this field and I have full faith in their expertise.
PakPassion: Would you like to give a personal message for PPers? You have a very big fan following here, and they have tremendous belief in you.
Fawad Alam: I would request them to be patient. I will definitely fulfill their faith and confidence in me; I will definitely come back and prove myself.
http://www.pakpassion.net/gallery/files/1/3/8/8/DSC02821.jpg
Here, he speaks to PakPassion.net about a number of topics including his experiences in the 2010 Twenty20 World Cup, his personal goals and ambitions, and his response to being dropped from the ODI and Test squad.
PakPassion: How did you feel when you found that you have been dropped from the test squad of England tour? Were you surprised on your exclusion?
Fawad Alam: Its part of cricket, it happens to every cricketer. I am not the only one who it has happened to. Honestly, I am not very worried about it. I am now working even harder to get my spot back in the side. I am even more determined, and I will definitely come back.
PakPassion: You are in the Twenty20 squad which is going to England, what are your expectations? Do you think you can deliver in these three Twenty20's?
Fawad Alam: Inshallah, I am very hopeful and optimistic. I am hoping to do well in England. We have a very solid Twenty20 team, and are going there to win.
PakPassion: Since Waqar has been appointed Pakistan's headcoach have you ever spoken to him or even Shahid Afridi since he became captain? If you have then what did you have to say to them?
Fawad Alam: No not really, I haven’t spoken to them yet. In the end, what matters the most is my performance. I hope I will deliever my message via my performance.
PakPassion: How was your experience in the recently concluded Twenty20 World Cup which was held in the West Indies?
Fawad Alam: It was a great experience. This was my third consecutive Twenty20 World Cup and like the others, I enjoyed it a lot. Apart from enjoying the tournament, I learnt a lot from this World Cup.
PakPassion: Apart from cricket what interests do you have?
Fawad Alam: At the moment it's only cricket. Cricket is my first priority and I am completely focused on it, as I want to establish myself and develop my career. Besides, we don’t really have time for anything else, as our schedule is quite busy.
PakPassion: Do you watch any other sports apart from cricket? Are you a fan of, or play any other sports? Have you been following the FIFA World Cup?
Fawad Alam: I watch a lot of cricket. Sometimes I watch football on television. However, at the moment it's only about cricket.
PakPassion: When you are on foreign tours then how does it feel going back and forth to hotels. Don't you get homesick?
Fawad Alam: I enjoy it a lot! Basically it's part of our job and it comes with the package of being a professional cricketer. Tours and everything that comes with that is part of our life. It is definitely not hectic for me, it comes with the job.
PakPassion: When you travel with the team who do you hang around the most? What do you guys do in your spare time?
Fawad Alam: Alhamdulillah, I get along with everyone in the team very well. We have a bunch of four-five guys who go out for shopping, going out for dinner. In my opinion, it’s a very good thing about our team; we enjoy each other’s company, on and off the field.
PakPassion: Who's your best friend on the team? And who's the funniest person on the team?
Fawad Alam: I get along well with everyone in the side. I won’t say there is anyone I am particularly close to. All of them are my friends whether it's seniors or juniors, everyone is alike.
PakPassion: Who is your favourite cricketer?
Fawad Alam: My all-time favourite cricketer is Saeed Anwar. Saeed Bhai has been a huge inspiration for me and I always loved to watch his batting, he was simply brilliant.
PakPassion: Do you imitate him or his playing style?
Fawad Alam: (laughs) Well my style is quite unique! There is no way I can imitate him as he was simply a great player. I followed him a lot and I speak to him quite often. He has given me plenty of good advice and guidance over the years.
PakPassion: Many former players have criticized your technique and have felt that it will expose you on seaming or bouncy tracks. How would you respond? Any intentions of making adjustments?
Fawad Alam: I don’t feel that there is anything wrong with my technique. I am OK, I’ve made runs with this technique and do not think there is anything wrong with it; people should take note of that.
PakPassion: How is your bowling progressing? Do you think you can fill the role of an all-rounder?
Fawad Alam: Inshallah, I will prove my ability in both bowling and batting when I get a full chance. I am equally focused on both my batting and bowling; I am not given any one aspect particular importance over the other.
PakPassion: Would you consider playing for an English county next year and get experience in playing in English seaming and swinging conditions?
Fawad Alam: Definitely I would love to play county cricket. In fact, I’ve played three-four years of league cricket already, and would love to play in England again.
PakPassion: What kind of experience was it?
Fawad Alam: It was a great eye-opener; it really helped my batting. They really look up to you as you are the overseas professional cricketer, and you need to show a lot of mental toughness. Apart from mental toughness you need to spend a lot of time at the wicket and play the overs. It’s a great thing for a batsman.
PakPassion: You have been fluctuated a lot in the batting order. So what's your preferred position in the side?
Fawad Alam: I prefer to bat in the middle order at either number four or five or five. But I will bat wherever required in the lineup.
PakPassion: As you have played all three formats of the game for Pakistan, is there any particular format you enjoy playing in the most?
Fawad Alam: One cannot focus on any one cricket format over the other. A good and professional player is one who can play in any format, and in any situation. I have no preference, I enjoy all three formats, be it Twenty20, ODIs or Tests. I always give my very best in all three formats. It is a huge honour for me to represent Pakistan in any format, and I won’t let the country down in any of them by concentrating on one over the other.
PakPassion: What or who has been your biggest influence on your career so far?
Fawad Alam: My biggest influence I would say is myself. I’m a self-made cricketer. In my opinion, the best coach one could ever get is himself. One works a lot on technique etc, and various people come into that as well, but no-one in particular has had that kind of role in my cricketing development.
PakPassion: You are one of the players who is signed up by Aces Middle East. Can you confirm what they are specifically working with you on and how you think they can help you with your career?
Fawad Alam: Aces Middle East are my management company. They represent me in negotiations with potential sponsors, possible future domestic teams that may be interested in my signature. They are professionals in this field and I have full faith in their expertise.
PakPassion: Would you like to give a personal message for PPers? You have a very big fan following here, and they have tremendous belief in you.
Fawad Alam: I would request them to be patient. I will definitely fulfill their faith and confidence in me; I will definitely come back and prove myself.
http://www.pakpassion.net/gallery/files/1/3/8/8/DSC02821.jpg