Fawad Tariq Alam (Urdu: فواد عالم; born 8 October 1985) is a Pakistani cricketer and actor who has represented Sindh in domestic cricket and the Pakistan national cricket team in international cricket. A left-handed batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, he is regarded as one of the most prolific run-scorers in Pakistani first-class cricket, and is the only Pakistani batter ranked among the all-time top 50 in first-class cricket by career batting average.
| Full name | Fawad Tariq Alam |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 October 1985, Karachi, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Batting style | Left-handed |
| Bowling style | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| Domestic team | Sindh |
| National team | Pakistan |
| International debut | May 2007 |
| Other profession | Actor |
Fawad Alam was born in Karachi on 8 October 1985. He developed his game in Pakistan's domestic first-class circuit, where he became known for consistent run-scoring over many seasons. He plays primarily as a top- or middle-order left-handed batter, and is also a useful slow left-arm orthodox bowler.
Fawad made his international debut for Pakistan in May 2007. Despite a strong record in first-class cricket, he was overlooked for selection to Pakistan's Test team for more than a decade, a decision that became a recurring point of discussion among cricket commentators and supporters.
He returned to the Pakistan Test side in August 2020, in a series against England. The recall came after a gap of 88 Tests and more than ten years — the second-longest gap between Test appearances by a Pakistani cricketer, behind only Younis Ahmed, who had a gap of 104 Tests.
Beyond his batting, Fawad has become widely recognised for a distinctive celebration after reaching milestones such as centuries. The gesture is modelled on the style associated with Ertuğrul Gazi, a character from the Turkish historical drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul, of which he is a noted admirer.
Fawad's career is often cited as an example of perseverance in Pakistani cricket, given his long absence from the Test format despite a prolific domestic record. His inclusion among the all-time top 50 batsmen in first-class cricket by career batting average — and his standing as the only Pakistani on that list — underlines the weight of his domestic achievements.