Azeem Ghumman eyes senior team place
Ghumman sees the opportunity of leading the team in Sri Lanka as the ideal chance to impress national selectors.
LAHORE:
Pakistan ‘A’ captain Azeem Ghumman sees the opportunity of leading the team in Sri Lanka as the ideal chance to impress national selectors and make it to the Pakistan squad as an opener.
Ghumman, who also led Pakistan in the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, said that he is now experienced enough to don the colours of the national team.
“I have played ample first-class cricket and this tour to Sri Lanka with the ‘A’ team provides a key opportunity to assert that I have the potential to play top level cricket even at a young age,” Ghumman told The Express Tribune.
The opener added that he is looking forward to living up to the expectations of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after he was picked to lead the side in the presence of more experienced players.
“The board has shown a lot of confidence in me. It is a privilege to lead the team and I look forward to the challenge. Players like Aamir Sajjad, Khurram Manzoor and others have played twice as much as I have. But I am delighted that all of them have supported me and I am looking forward to their continued guidance,” said Ghumman, who idolises Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Meanwhile, the 19-year-old dismissed the notion that players, who were successful in domestic cricket, failed to score runs on foreign soil and believed that players must be given ample time to prove themselves. “The PCB’s move to induct young players for the England tour was a positive one but they need time to perform. Players can’t be judged after just three or four chances,” added Ghumman. “Take the example of former Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu. His career got off to the worst possible start. But he was given time and he established himself then.”
Ghumman will lead Pakistan ‘A’ for the tri-series in Sri Lanka that features the hosts and South Africa before two four-day matches against Sri Lanka ‘A’ from September 9.
“I know it would be a tough challenge because Sri Lanka has the home advantage while South Africa is one of the best sides. But we also have a tough side.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 14th, 2010.
Pakistan ‘A’ captain Azeem Ghumman sees the opportunity of leading the team in Sri Lanka as the ideal chance to impress national selectors and make it to the Pakistan squad as an opener.
Ghumman, who also led Pakistan in the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, said that he is now experienced enough to don the colours of the national team.
“I have played ample first-class cricket and this tour to Sri Lanka with the ‘A’ team provides a key opportunity to assert that I have the potential to play top level cricket even at a young age,” Ghumman told The Express Tribune.
The opener added that he is looking forward to living up to the expectations of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after he was picked to lead the side in the presence of more experienced players.
“The board has shown a lot of confidence in me. It is a privilege to lead the team and I look forward to the challenge. Players like Aamir Sajjad, Khurram Manzoor and others have played twice as much as I have. But I am delighted that all of them have supported me and I am looking forward to their continued guidance,” said Ghumman, who idolises Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Meanwhile, the 19-year-old dismissed the notion that players, who were successful in domestic cricket, failed to score runs on foreign soil and believed that players must be given ample time to prove themselves. “The PCB’s move to induct young players for the England tour was a positive one but they need time to perform. Players can’t be judged after just three or four chances,” added Ghumman. “Take the example of former Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu. His career got off to the worst possible start. But he was given time and he established himself then.”
Ghumman will lead Pakistan ‘A’ for the tri-series in Sri Lanka that features the hosts and South Africa before two four-day matches against Sri Lanka ‘A’ from September 9.
“I know it would be a tough challenge because Sri Lanka has the home advantage while South Africa is one of the best sides. But we also have a tough side.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 14th, 2010.