Asad Shafiq vows to stage comeback in shorter formats

Pakistan’s middle-order batsman keen to overcome faults .

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s dependant and technically sound batsman Asad Shafiq has vowed to stage comeback in the one-day and T20 formats by proving his form in the Test side.

The 28-year-old middle-order batsman has been out of the T20 team for more than two years and last played against England in Abu Dhabi in February 2012; his most recent appearance in the one-day side was on an away tour of South Africa in November last year.



His opportunities have been limited throughout his career in the shorter formats of the game, which has affected his overall performance.

“I’m going through a lean patch right now, but I’m hopeful of
making a comeback in one-dayers and T20Is by doing well in Test cricket,” said Shafiq on the sidelines of the ongoing training camp in Lahore.

“Ups and downs come in every player’s career and are part of the game. I’ve taken my exclusion as a challenge and I am trying to work more than ever on my faults in order to do well in the future.”

Shafiq has represented Pakistan in 26 Tests, scoring 1,391 runs at an average of 36.60 with four centuries – out of which two came against South Africa, the current best bowling attack in the world – and eight fifties.

His one-day career stands at 46 matches with 1,096 runs at a modest average of 26.09 laced with eight half-centuries, while he has represented Pakistan in 10 T20Is with 192 runs to his credit.

“When you are sidelined, your confidence does get shaken but that shouldn’t be an excuse and one must give his 100% whenever an opportunity comes one’s way. I’ve no problems batting at any number according to the requirement of the team.”

Forget captaincy, I want to cement my place first: Amin

Umar Amin, a hit-and-miss player in international cricket but a prodigious talent in the domestic circuit, has said that he wants to regain his spot in the national team.

Amin was touted as a future captain too prematurely and the burden on the youngster proved excessive. He notched just 99 runs from four Tests and mustered only 250 runs from 14 one-dayers. His T20Is record remain a sorry sight too with just 76 runs from nine outings.

“I’ve always stated that I want to cement my place in the team first and captaincy was never on my mind,” said Amin.

“I’m trying to overcome my shortcomings and working on ways to improve my technical and tactical deficiencies.”

Luden brought in due to diverse skills: PCB official

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed South Africa’s Grant Luden who was working with Bangladesh previously, as trainer and fielding coach of Pakistan.

“We were always in the hunt of a fielding coach who could perform dual duties of trainer as well,” a senior PCB official told The Express Tribune.

“Luden fulfilled the criteria and thus the board has decided to hire him. Hopefully he’ll bring in the professionalism needed for modern day cricket.”

Sethi terms players ‘national assets’

Pakistani cricketers are national assets who must be looked after, groomed and nurtured, said PCB Chairman Najam Sethi.

Sethi was speaking to the cricketers assembled at the Gaddafi Stadium training camp on Friday at the conclusion of their daily training drills.

“You all are national assets,” he said. “As long as I am chairman, I will try and provide you with the best training facilities and incentives. The PCB has hired the best coaching staff from here and abroad.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2014.

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