The Younis Khan-Fawad Alam love story

Fawad has now scored two Test centuries with Younis first one his side as captain and then as batting coach

KARACHI:

Have you ever heard a sigh of relief, a sigh of gratitude, a sigh of great pleasure or even a sigh filled with pure ecstasy? If not, watch Fawad Alam tilt his head upwards as he thanks the Almighty after pulling one for a four and completing his century. But there was someone else who Fawad thanked.

The scene couldn’t have been better set. It seemed like it was plucked out of a Steven Spielberg movie. It was the perfect setup in the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand at the picturesque Mount Maunganui stadium.

Pakistan had been left wanting throughout the four long days, unable to win even one session of the match. A Kane Williamson-led New Zealand side had done to Pakistan, what the Men in Green have been doing to teams throughout their prolonged run in the UAE as their home ground: score big in the first innings, get the opposition out with them still trailing, walk in to bat again, add more runs to the target and then exploit the fourth and fifth day pitch to skittle the opposition once again.

The formula had worked perfectly and Pakistan were left with seven wickets and still a 300-plus score to chase. Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam left the pitch at the end of day four, firstly scared of what the day five pitch would offer to the New Zealand bowlers and secondly, somewhat hopeful that they may just, barely just, be able to stay on for the whole day and avoid a defeat.

Then came the D-day.

Azhar was the first man down. In just the second over of the fifth day, he half-heartedly pushed one towards covers, however, the ball just flew to BJ Watling behind the wickets carrying a nick off Azhar’s bat. Pakistan are now in trouble. With only two proper batsmen Muhammad Rizwan and Faheem Ashraf remaining, the duo that put together the fight for Pakistan in the first innings, the momentum had clearly shifted towards New Zealand.

But the climax was not going to be that predictable all thanks to Fawad.

But why should Pakistan rest their hopes on an unorthodox batsman like Fawad, who had been lurking in the domestic wilderness for what seems like a century now? What can he offer? Or a better question should have been will he finally announce his return? Will he rise from the ashes like the fabled phoenix?

And rise he did.

During his 396-minute stay on the crease, Fawad was all that he promised to be: focused, determined, exceptional, special, unique and most importantly a textbook Test batsman, but with an unusual stance.

The southpaw scored a 102 runs courtesy 14 boundaries, just two fours less than what the whole team had hit. That should have sent a message to everyone who always claimed that the left-handed batsman was not a boundary-hitter.

Meanwhile, he faced 269 balls. Only Muhammad Rizwan and Azhar Ali faced more than a 100 balls, 191 and 120 respectively, and Fawad had a better strike rate than both of them. Talk about him not going for a win and just trying to save face by saving the Test.

What was also important to notice that when he completed his ton, he signalled towards Pakistan’s batting coach Younis Khan, who could be clearly seen jumping in his seat with happiness.

Fawad had last scored a Test century in 2009, and guess who the captain was in that match against Sri Lanka? Younis himself.

Fawad, during his years in domestic cricket, once recalled that after failing to score big in the first innings during the 2009 Test, where he managed only 16 runs off 33 balls, Younis had given Fawad a gift. Younis told him to open it after batting in the second innings. Fawad came out after scoring a scintillating 168 and when he opened the gift, there was a tennis ball which had an inscription saying, “Fawad will score a century” written on it.

On Wednesday, after Fawad thanked the God for a chance at redemption, he immediately looked at the one man who always had confidence in his ability, Younis Khan.

Pakistan deserves more stories like these, Pakistan deserves more mentors like Younis and more players who are nurtured and grown into legends like Fawad.