KARACHI: Test cricketer Fawad Alam has denied the reports regarding him quitting Pakistan cricket to explore opportunities in the United States (US).

The speculation took the internet by storm on Tuesday when an Indian news outlet reported that Fawad Alam had decided to call time on his international career with Pakistan and focus on a new chapter in the US.

The report added that Alam, who played his last Test for Pakistan in Sri Lanka in 2022, has joined Minor League Cricket T20’s franchise Chicago Kingsmen as a local player.

Minor League Cricket is a sub-division of the MLC – first-ever cricket league of the US – which concluded in July.

Meanwhile, Fawad Alam has categorically denied the reports regarding his retirement and asserted the rumours circulating are baseless.

“I have not arrived at any conclusive determination up to this point. I have neither parted ways with Pakistan cricket nor opted for retirement,” Fawad was quoted saying.

“I remain committed to participating in domestic cricket, aiming to extend my involvement for the coming one to two years, or however long my professional journey continues,” Fawad clarified.

It is worth mentioning here that Fawad Alam, who made his international debut for Pakistan in 2007, has a career full of ups and downs.

After a brief stint in white-ball cricket Fawad made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2009. The left-handed batter scripted a solid start to his red-ball career by notching up a hundred in his maiden Test.

His debut hundred appeared to have promised a glittering career but he was dropped after managing to play just two more Tests.

Fawad Alam continued to prove his mettle in the domestic cricketer where he piled more than 10,000 runs which rewarded him with two brief comebacks in the white-ball but could not become a regular part of the team.

In Tests, however, Fawad had to wait an excruting 10 years to return in the away series against England.

His performance in the England series, however, did not do justice with his domestic record but Fawad Alam soon found himself going in the away series against New Zealand in late 2020.

He scored a gutsy century against a strong New Zealand bowling attack on a challenging surface, which earned him the individual performance award by the PCB.

Fawad, fuelled with momentum, added three more centuries to his tally which came against Zimbabwe, South Africa and West Indies.

He had appeared to become a regular part of the Pakistan Test setup, however, his below-par performance in the three-match home series against Australia, saw him being dropped from the Playing XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Fawad Alam was then recalled to Pakistan’s lineup for the second Test but could only accumulate 25 runs, which saw him being dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the home series against England.

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