At the age of 24, Fawad Alam has gone through more than what most cricketers go through in their entire lives. He must wonder what he has done to be on the receiving end of such treatment from Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selection committee. From once being touted as “the next big thing,” he has gone to being sent home from Australia half-way through the series – all in the matter of a few months. Maybe averaging 39 against Australia in Australia (in one-day-internationals) just isn’t enough to cut it into Pakistan’s stellar batting line-up.

Fawad burst on to the scene during the 2006/07 domestic Twenty20 tournament, where he won every award worth winning: man-of-the-final, man-of-the-series, best batsman and best bowler. This lead to his selection into Pakistan’s Twenty20 side, where he was given a fair chance to prove himself in 21 T20 matches but it seemed as if no one knew what to do with him. On an average, Fawad faced six balls (Average: 20.62, Strike Rate: 128.9) and bowled 4.3 balls (Average: 11.87, Economy Rate: 6.33) in a match. His most memorable T20 performance came against Sri Lanka in Toronto, where his blistering knock of 23 off 8 deliveries helped Pakistan win the match. In this innings, Fawad came in at number nine, behind Sohail Tanvir.

Fawad’s ODI career tells a similar story. In his first seven innings, Fawad was made to bat at every position from number five to nine but once settled into his preferred position (six), he scored a couple valuable half-centuries. Fawad’s average still hovers above 40, which is more than what the current crop of batsmen can boast. At domestic level, Fawad has scored nearly 2000 runs in 66 ‘List A’ matches with an average of 43.46. Despite an impressive ODI record, he is still remains Pakistan’s most dispensable player, having given up his position for on-again, off-again players.

However, the most mind-boggling fact and one that gives young Fawad ulcers is that he isn’t part of the Pakistan side currently touring England. Why? Because his first-class average is higher than that of Pakistan’s entire batting line up, including Mohammad Yousuf – all of whom were preferred over him and have been given more chances to prove themselves. Also because Pakistan played him in a warm-up match before the Australia series in England, where he scored 68 not-out in the second innings against Kent. Still no place for him in the Test side.

The selectors had overlooked him for the first Test against Sri Lanka in 2009, which prompted the following reaction from former Pakistan captain Moin Khan: “Fawad Alam scored 80 odd runs in the warm-up game, he is also an excellent fielder and a player who can also bowl left-arm spin…I fail to understand why he was left out.”

After a dreadful performance by Salman Butt, an opening spot was up for grabs and Fawad embraced the opportunity even though he had never opened an innings before. After a first innings failure, Fawad showed composure beyond his years to score a gutsy 168 in the second innings.

This impressive performance was probably the reason why he was then given the responsibility of going in at number three in New Zealand, even with Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Yousuf in the line-up. Fawad scored 29 in his first innings and once the match was over, he never adorned the whites for Pakistan again.

Since it is difficult to judge the class of a player during three Test matches, let’s take a look at his 57 first-class matches: Fawad averages 56 with 4423 runs under his belt. In 2008, during a Pakistan Academy tour match, he frustrated the Kenyan national side by scoring a whopping 302 not-out, just six runs more than his highest first-class score of 296 not-out.

It seems as if Pakistan never learnt how to use him best. Or maybe the fact that he has played under four different captains in a period of three years has made him lose his place. But isn’t this the job of the cricket board, then? To find, groom, and utilise young talent to the best of their abilities. While Pakistan cricket might be heading for disaster one hopes Fawad doesn’t become a casualty in this terrible mess.

As things currently stand, Fawad could be in the Pakistan side just for his brilliant fielding. Some of his catches would make the best fielders in the world blush, while his fitness has also never been an issue. David Dwyer, Pakistan's fitness trainer singled out Fawad, saying his "fitness levels are through the roof."

Fawad’s technique has often received criticism from experts and selectors alike. However, he has played important knocks and made runs despite this flawed technique. And if technique were the sole selection criteria, players like Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Hashim Amla and Virender Sehwag would have probably never made it to the Test level.

Fawad’s excellent fitness levels, dogged batting performances, athletic fielding and impressive mental strength that he showed in his debut Test should have been enough to see this 24-year-old from Karachi in the Pakistan side.

While most players would probably give up on their dream to represent their country had they gone through so much turbulence in their short careers, let’s hope Fawad Alam remains upbeat and optimistic and continues to fight for his place in a squad that desperately needs reinforcements.

Bilal Hayat is a sports intern at Dawn.com

The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.