Fazal’s opportunity to show case his talent at international level : At 30 years he is no youngster. But Faiz Fazal, representing Vidarbha in the domestic circuit has had a reasonable domestic season and this has prompted the BCCI selectors to pick him up in the fifteen-member squad for the Indian tour to Zimbabwe to play a series of 3 ODIs and 2 T20Is.
The left-hand bat and right-arm medium pacer has featured in 64 List A games, thus far, and has scored 2,037 runs at an average of 34.52 and 129* as his individual best. He has 5 centuries and 13 half centuries to his credit.
Fazal played a stellar role in India A clinching the Deodhar Trophy early this year, pitted against India B at Green Park, Kanpur.
Playing an innings panning 159 minutes, scoring 100 runs (his 5th List A century in his 64th match) off 112 deliveries, studded with 9 fours and 3 sixes, Faiz Yaub Fazal, ensured a victory for India A.
The opening pair of Fazal and Murali Vijay gave a ‘dream start’ putting on 162 runs for the first wicket in 31.2 overs, when Vijay fell after scoring 69 runs.
Fazal continued the good work for another 5 overs and unfortunately was run-out with the team score at 187/3 in 36.2 overs. His half-century came in 72 deliveries with 5 fours and 2 sixes.
His batting coupled with good bowling efforts of Shabaz Nadeem, Srinath Arvind, Krishna Das and Shardul Thakur ensured a victory for India A.
For his batting exploits, Fazal was awarded the Player of the Match.
This Zimbabwe tour is a good opportunity for Fazal to test his abilities in overseas conditions. This would pave way for him to put out a good performance and be in the reckoning.
He would get an opportunity to bowl alongside Rishi Dhawan, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jayadv Unadkat, Barindern Sran etc.
Playing under the stalwart MS Dhoni should help Faizal to further his career and eye a long-term place in the national squad.
