Sri Lanka tour: Hafeez content with T20 arsenal

We have enough talent to overcome Jamshed’s injury, says all-rounder.

KARACHI:

Although he is leading only the Twenty20 side, Mohammad Hafeez has realised the importance of taking the team along with him and the added pressure of leading from the front.

Hafeez, who has also been made Misbahul Haq’s deputy in Tests and One-Day Internationals, said that he was looking to improve his individual form after getting the extra responsibility but his main focus was carrying the team with him.

“I am thinking about all 15 players in my team,” Hafeez told reporters on the sidelines of the team’s training camp in Lahore.

“I am trying to give them extra confidence. Unfortunately, after one or two poor performances, we start thinking that a player does not deserve to be in the team. I am against all that and will try to create a good environment in the dressing room.”

Sri Lanka a tough place to tour: Hafeez

Meanwhile, Hafeez, while praising Misbah, for his leadership qualities, hoped for success against Sri Lanka in tough conditions. Pakistan have lost opener Nasir Jamshed through injury but the Twenty20 captain believes that the team has enough performing players to do well against the hosts in the two-match Twenty20 series.

“A tour of Sri Lanka is always tough. But the best thing is that we are going to play four practice matches prior to our departure.

“We have not played international cricket since the Asia Cup and these matches will help us go into the tour with practice and momentum.

“Jamshed was in very good form during the Asia Cup and we had become a settled opening pair.

“But we are going in with a 15-man squad and all of them are fit. Ahmed Shehzad was outstanding in the Bangladesh Premier League. We have Khalid Latif who has been impressive in domestic T20 for the last two years.

“Umar Akmal and the experienced Shoaib Malik are also there plus I am in good form too. So we have enough players to make our presence felt despite Jamshed’s injury.”

Hafeez also gave a thumbs-up to fast-bowler Mohammad Sami’s selection for all three formats.

“Sami has been doing very well so his selection is justified.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2012.