Cricket: One chance is all I need, says Rana Naved

Out-of-favour all-rounder reckons he still has what it takes.

KARACHI:

Rana Navedul Hasan has ruled out international retirement despite continuous snubs by the national selection committee, instead announcing that he still has at least two more years of cricket left in him.

Naved last played for Pakistan in February 2010, a Twenty20 in Australia, but was handed a one-year ban following the team’s winless tour of Australia. Although his ban was lifted in October that year, the all-rounder has not been considered for national duty, the latest of the snubs came when he was overlooked for all three formats for Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka.

“I was expecting to be in the mix on the tour but was distraught to find out that it wasn’t the case,” Naved told The Express Tribune. “But despite the repeated overlooking, I’m in no mood of throwing in the towel because I can still play at the top level for at least two years and will work hard to play for Pakistan again.”

Naved, though, admitted that it were only the limited-overs squads that he wanted to be in contention for, not Tests as he had given up hopes of playing five-day matches. The all-rounder has played nine Tests for Pakistan, scoring 239 runs with a best of 42* while also taking 18 wickets at an average of 58.

“As far as Test cricket goes, my career is finished and I don’t see myself playing Tests for Pakistan again. But I still have the required fitness to excel in Twenty20s and One-Day Internationals.”

While being out-of-favour for Pakistan, Naved has been making waves in domestic events all over the world, including Friends Life T20, Faysal Bank T20 Cup, the Bangladesh Premier League and the Big Bash.

“My performances all over the word speak for themselves. If I had lost touch with cricket, or wasn’t good enough to be playing, I wouldn’t have been doing so well in these events all over the world against quality opposition.

“Also, there is time before Pakistan’s 2012 World Twenty20 squad is announced. I am looking to do well for Derbyshire in June (in the Twenty20 event) to stake my claims for a place in the squad. Hopefully, I’ll get one more chance to represent Pakistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2012.