KARACHI: Emphasising self-belief played a vital role in enabling him to make a successful return to international cricket, Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad on Thursday said with hard work and harmony national team could do wonders at next year’s World Cup.

“This is my firm belief that Pakistan team will do very well at the World Cup. All the players have been working hard and I’m sure this tough grind backed by teamwork and positive attitude will enable the players — who have all the potential — to do wonders in Australia and New Zealand,” Shehzad told Dawn in an interview.

“Like other players, I’m also trying my best and hopefully all this will pay off.

“After the recent series against Australia and New Zealand in the UAE, we’ve had several team talks, in which we bucked each other up and it certainly made us more organised as a unit.”

Shehzad has performed reasonably well for Pakistan recently and as a result the right-hander has become a regular member in all three formats. And the 23-year-old underlined belief played a crucial part in his growth.

“I retained the belief, the conviction that I can do it and improve. With Almighty’s grace this self-confidence helped me return to international cricket with success during the last 12 to 15 months or so,” stressed Shehzad who returned to the ODI fold in July 2013 for the series in the West Indies.

“First, I played Twenty20s. Then I was given the opportunity in ODIs, which require a completely different approach, and I managed to perform. Finally, I came into Test cricket, which was my dream, when I made my debut against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi late last year.”

Having played 56 ODIs and possessing a respectable average of 34.81, Shehzad however is yet to take guard in top-level cricket in Australia, known for its fast and bouncy tracks on which most Pakistan batsmen have struggled over the years.

The opener, though, is ready to take the challenge head-on with Pakistan playing three of their six first-round World Cup matches in Australia.

“I take each game as a challenge and enjoy all challenges. In professional cricket at various places you have different playing conditions and yes Australia is bouncy but again I will take it as a challenge and try to adjust and do my best,” he stated.

“In Australia, the ball doesn’t seam much, it bounces more so I feel practising hook, pull and cut shots more and more would be beneficial for all batsmen.

“I along with all my national team colleagues will combine to do well in the World Cup, and there are two, three reasons for this which I would express before leaving for the World Cup,” he added.

Responding to a question on whether his relatively calm approach in batting after making international comeback last year — unlike his previously held belligerence — had helped him more to mature as a batsman or curtailed his natural aggression, the Lahore-born opener sounded judicious.

“First, let me tell you my concept of aggression in cricket. Aggression to me is not going out there and smashing a few sixes here and there, rather aggression is more about your body language which should always be positive; and secondly how you time, as batsman, that attacking attitude with your strokes.

“I always opt for the team’s requirement. My aggression on the field should be, and is, for the team and I will continue to maintain this approach,” he vowed.

Giving his views on recent back-to-back series against Australia and New Zealand in the UAE, Shehzad reckoned the entire tour benefited Pakistan camp.

“Though we could not end it on a high [losing to New Zealand in the third Test and the ODI series 2-3], still I believe overall it helped us know our strengths and weaknesses prior to the World Cup. Moreover, our captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and several other seniors as well as juniors excelled in the UAE — all a welcome sign for us.”

Shehzad first represented Pakistan in top-level international game in April 2009, a month after Sri Lankan cricketers suffered a horrific terror attack in Lahore which closed doors of almost all international sport to Pakistan. And the player dearly wants to exhibit his talent at home.

“If there has been something missing in my life and game, this is playing in front of my countrymen here in Pakistan ever since I made my international debut. A home series where you know the playing conditions and have the direct backing of enthusiastic fans certainly gives you an edge.”

On his future ambitions in international cricket, he added: “I want to serve my country in the best possible way for as long as I can. Secondly, I, as a member of national team, wish to make Pakistan cricket team a family — where everybody would care about each other — before I retire from international game.”

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2014