Don’t write me off yet: Rana Naved

Out-of-favour all-rounder has ‘3 years of international cricket’ left in him.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s discarded all-rounder Rana Navedul Hasan, who has been out of international cricket for over 18 months, said he has enough mileage left in him and is eligible for national reckoning due to his ‘form and fitness’.

The all-rounder, who has played 74 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and nine Tests, has failed to find a place in the national team since the tour of Australia that concluded in early 2010. He was one of seven players who were punished by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the aftermath of the winless tour on disciplinary grounds.

However, his one-year ban was lifted the same year, as with every other ban that was placed, but the all-rounder has become a forgotten entity for the selectors. Naved now spends most of the time playing abroad including County cricket with Sussex and remains surprised at the continuous omission.

“I feel dejected by the continuous snub,” Naved told The Express Tribune. “I’ve being cleared by the board and my performance with Sussex is in front of everybody. But I still get overlooked by the selectors and that’s something I don’t understand.”

It has been learnt that Naved’s name does not even come under discussion when the selection committee sits down to finalise national squads. But the 33-year-old, playing for the Sialkot Stallions in the ongoing National Twenty20 Cup, said it was wrong of them to do so, especially after he was the highest wicket-taker for the Stallions in their convincing win over defending champions Lahore Lions.

“I am fit and in good form which has been proved by my county stint. I can serve Pakistan for at least three years and sidelining me completely is just wrong.

“I am taking part in the Twenty20 Cup with great enthusiasm and enjoying it a lot as well. Hopefully, I will gain the selectors’ nod by proving my form and fitness in this tournament.

“I will continue working hard to regain my place in the national squad.”

The seasoned cricketer’s next international assignment will be the Australian Twenty20 league Big Bash in December.

“I will be playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash and this is to keep myself busy by featuring in different tournaments. Playing for Pakistan remains my priority and I will always be available whenever recalled.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th,  2011.