August 04, 2007	Saturday	Rajab 19, 1428

LONDON, Aug 3: Pakistan’s prolific leg-spinner Danish Kaneria on Friday said he was confident about finding a place in the national team for the forthcoming Twenty20 World Championship, scheduled to be held in South Africa next month.

In his column for a well-known cricket website, Kaneria wrote: “When Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Championship is announced, I will be hoping that my name will be in there as I would really love to play in that tournament.

“I have played a few Twenty20 matches for Essex this season and I’ve enjoyed them — the sold out crowds and the challenge of bowling in what we all know is a batsman’s game. I have taken wickets and know I could do a good job for my country in South Africa. Let us wait and see what happens.”

Kaneria, enjoying yet another fruitful season with English county Essex, added that he was forced to miss the last couple of matches for Essex, “but I was bowling quite a lot of overs and felt I needed a couple of weeks rest and gym work, which has refreshed me. I will make my comeback later this week.

“The couple of weeks off allowed me to catch up on some important fitness work and with some huge cricket matches approaching for both Essex and especially Pakistan, with maybe a Twenty20 World Championship and series against South Africa, India and Australia. I want to raise my fitness level.”

Commenting on his fitness level and his current stint in county cricket, Kaneria wrote: “I have 50 championship wickets after nine matches so far and I’m still aiming to take 100 wickets for the season like Mushtaq Ahmed did last year. I have five matches left so will need an average of 10 wickets per match.”—Agencies