November 23, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 1, 1427

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MULTAN, Nov 22: Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan leg-spinner, on Wednesday said he was not disheartened by the barrage of sixes from West Indies captain Brian Lara in the second Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

Talking to reporters after the fourth day’s play, Kaneria admitted that although it was tough going on Tuesday, he never lost hope of getting the great man out which he eventually did to end up with five for 181.

“I remained hopeful since I was in a positive frame of mind when Inzamam asked me to bowl this morning. I was pretty sure of getting Lara’s wicket even though there was nothing in the pitch for the bowlers,” Kaneria said.

“I’m not at all embarrassed after the Lara treatment because he remains the world’s top batsman in my book. And why just me, Lara has demolished some of the best bowlers during his tremendous career. In fact, it has been a privilege bowling to someone like him,” said the spinner, who at one stage was hit for 60 runs in 29 balls by the West Indian. “And because I’m still in the learning process of my career, I’m sure the experience of bowling at Lara in that sort of mood would make me a better bowler.”

Kaneria praised skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq for lifting the team’s spirits before the start of play on Wednesday. “The skipper was very supportive of the team and urged all of us to remain positive, especially me because of what I had gone through on the third day.

“Players normally face a lot of ups and downs. And yesterday was not our day and yet we fought back very well today to take the remaining wickets for not too many runs,” Kaneria, who is playing in his 42nd Test, remarked.

The lanky leg-spinner, however, pleaded for better pitches at home in Tests. “We should play on pitches that encourage good cricket. It’s no use having to grind for wickets on dead pitches.

I know it’s easy to prepare sporting tracks, particularly during winter period in the Punjab, but something has got to be done about it,” he urged. “At the end of the day, pitches should be prepared to suit our own strength.”