LAHORE: Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez believes that team is ready to face any opposition as a unit and will give its best performance and dominate Bangladesh as has been practice in the past.
Talking to media here at the Gaddafi stadium on the opening day of the camp training, Hafeez said that he was full of hope to clear his bowling action assessment.
“For the last four to five months I have worked very hard on remodeling of my bowling action and I must thank the National Cricket Academy staff including all the analysts and coaches for helping me out. My action has reached the level which we all feel should now get clearance.
“Unfortunately, I got injured during the World Cup and could not appear for test. As now I am going for the assessment I hope to come out clear,” he added.
Hafeez said that the retiring seniors always leave a void but the cricketers filling the gaps are more talented and skilful.
“Being one of the senior players, I will also miss all those cricketers who have retired from one-day cricket. The same way we all have to carry on with the game. The new comers would be better than us and we will extend them full support to raise the country’s name high,” he stressed.
“The talent Pakistan team has cannot be underrated and our upcoming players have proved their skills not only at domestic but also at every international level.
“The selection committee selected those players keeping in view their performance and I feel they are now ready. Though it is a new era but I believe Pakistan team will get through with all the new faces in the coming series,” he maintained.
On formulating a new delivery, Hafeez said that he is a simple bowler and does not know any doosra or teesra and has never tried such a delivery. “Whatever I have unleashed was natural and have been bowling the same way for the last decade or so. I have not changed the protocol of bowling and worked only on the basics,” he added.
“I have always tried my best to consolidate my position in the team as a batsman and as of bowling it is an added ingredient that has benefitted not only me but also the Pakistan Cricket Team,” he observed.
On a question, he said that a lot depends how the team showcases its abilities in any big tournament. “There is no doubt that Bangladesh has won many a hearts by playing good cricket and their qualification into the quarter-final had hardly any doubts,” he added.
He said that they will not be underrating Bangladesh particularly keeping in mind their conditions. “Playing them in their backyard has never been an easy task, though it looks easy. For the last couple of years they have transformed into a good side. But as a unit we have full confidence in our abilities as we are ready to play any team as a team.”
He further said that Pakistan’s domestic level cricket needs development and when it is carried out properly developed cricketers will make a better national fielding team.
Hafeez pointed out that if more hard work is done by a cricketer, a more mature cricketer is developed and there is no such thing called exhaustion as portrayed by critics’.
Hafeez believed that Pakistan cricket never had any problem of a captain. “The problem had always been of supporting the captain and as a nation we should support the new captain Azhar Ali. The PCB has always taken decision in the best interest of Pakistan cricket.
“Azhar has proved himself as a cricketer and I believe he will show his abilities as a good captain and all my support is with him,” he added.
Hafeez said that right now the issue is of improving Pakistan’s ranking in the world and not deciding on who plays on which number. “We are a strong cricket nation and we all should work hard to bring Pakistan to among the top three positions,” he said and added that he has always enjoyed playing in Bangladesh, where he feels secure and sees a very supportive crowd.
