After reaching a half-century in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy game at Karachi’s National Stadium, cricket player Abid Ali reported feeling pain in his shoulder and chest.

His cardiac issue was identified by physicians after he was brought to the hospital by the team management, who were worried about his health.

Abid considered his arduous journey to the national squad while lying in the hospital bed and wondered what would come next. After a 12-year domestic career in which he scored 7,116 runs in 106 first-class matches, Abid, now 31 years old, had just recently been granted his Test debut despite years of reliable performances.

Abid had a difficult time getting onto the national squad. Due to favouritism, he frequently experienced setbacks and lost out on previous possibilities. Following impressive results in the domestic cricket league and a double He became the first cricket player in history to score a century in both his Test and One-Day International debuts when he made history with a century on his debut.

But just as everything was starting to come together, his cardiac condition prevented him from continuing. After angioplasty, Abid recovered and became healthy again, but he was never called up to the national squad again.

Abid recently shared his unhappiness with a journalist, stating that he no longer receives calls from any source, not even his fellow cricket players or PCB officials. He disclosed that his contract for domestic work had terminated, and he was now responsible for making his own medical arrangements.

Abid said that he was not participating in the Champions Cup because an official had informed him that players older than 35 not allowed to participate. However, despite being perfectly healthy and active, he continues to be overlooked.

The incident calls into question why cricket players are treated differently depending on their age. Abid brought up the fact that Misbah-ul-Haq played Test cricket until he was forty-three, while other veteran players like Sarfaraz Ahmed, Nauman Ali, and Umar Amin continue to play in games. This implies a double standard in which some players—regardless of age—are permitted to continue while others, like Abid, are excluded.

Even if Abid’s domestic performance has declined since his return, he is still a talented player—better than many of the cricketers who are playing right now. Opportunities in Pakistan continue to evade him, so he now plays in leagues in England to make a living.

Conversely, cricket players such as Salman Butt, who have been implicated in match-fixing controversies, go on to have successful careers in media and commentary.

Abid’s situation demonstrates a larger issue in Pakistan’s cricket system, where talented players often go unnoticed due to a lack of connections or opportunities. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, known for valuing merit, has been urged to look into Abid’s situation and consider giving him another chance in events like the Champions Cup.

Giving him a role to support himself, if not the national team, could be a first step in making sure that worthy players are remembered.