Fawad Alam dethrones India’s Cheteshwar Pujara to become the quickest Asian batsmen to score five test centuries. He achieved this landmark in just 22 innings whereas Pujara previously held the record for scoring it in 24 innings.
He has also surpassed legendary former Indian captains Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar, who both managed to score five Test hundreds in 25 innings respectively.
Alam set the record during the third day innings at Pak vs WI test match. He scored an unbeaten 124 runs off 213 deliveries with 17 fours to lead his side to a total of 302/9 before skipper Babar Azam declared the innings.
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 22, 2021
Speaking after the match, Fawad said “my mother called before the start of the match and told me to just go and play, you’ll score a century today. When the match began, we were 2 down for 3 runs, the conditions were tough and pressure was on. Babar and I just tried to score as much as we could and the rest is the blessing from Allah.”
“My motivation and inspiration has been my father since he was a cricketer himself and has been supportive of me throughout. He has seen the ups and downs of cricket and hence when times were tough for me, he was there to keep me motivated and going.”
🗣️ @iamfawadalam25 reflects on his gritty 124 not out on day-three of the second #WIvPAK Test#HarHaalMainCricket #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/kTLJASB8SK
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 23, 2021
Fawad Alam has represented Pakistan in 12 Tests, 38 ODIs and 24 T20Is, where he has managed to score over 1,900 runs.
Read more: Fawad-Shaheen century gives Pakistan hope of levelling series
Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop has also praised Fawad Alam saying that he deserves every run and more that the cricketing gods deem necessary for him.
I am taking substance over style; Production over aesthetics any-day. Fawad Alam deserves every run and more that the cricketing gods deem necessary for him. 4 centuries in the last 12 months since he returned👏🏻👏🏻.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) August 22, 2021
Shaheen Shah Afridi has also scored his career-best performance during the test getting six wickets for just 51 runs.
West Indies were bowled out for 150 runs as Pakistan walk away with a commanding 152-run first innings lead.
Read more: Babar, Fawad save Pakistan in second Test
Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam then made a bold declaration of its second innings at 176 for 6, more than an hour before stumps, setting the West Indies a chase for 329 in around 130 overs to win the match and series.