LAHORE: Seasoned opener Mohammad Hafeez while hoping he will succeed in getting his bowling action cleared warned Pakistan, touring Bangladesh next week, not to take the host side easy.

The batting all-rounder said the hosts were emerging and had recently shown improvements in their game.

Talking to media on the first day of the training camp which commenced at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh, Hafeez who missed the World Cup due to fitness problem, said: “I have done a lot of hard work during the last four months to get my bowling action cleared, and I am thankful to all my coaches and analyst who helped me a lot. It is unfortunate that my biomechanics test could not be conducted before the World Cup and later I missed the mega event as a batsman too due to fitness problems.”

Talking about his bowling action, he said: “I have not started any new delivery like ‘teesra’ because my bowling action is natural due to which I have kept my original style instead of introducing any new bowling action. I am hopeful I will get clearance from the ICC.”

Hafeez, who said he always tried his best to get a place in the national team as batsman with off-spin bowling as additional quality, is going to Chennai on April 9 to appear in a biomechanics test as his bowling action was declared illegal by the ICC.

About Pakistan’s chances in the upcoming series against Bangladesh Hafeez said: “Though Pakistan have always proved as a better side against Bangladesh, we should not underestimate them because they are playing in their own conditions. We are ready to face Bangladesh but they are not easy rivals, for they are emerging as a better side.”

The veteran of 40 Tests and 155 ODIs further said that Bangladesh qualified for the World Cup quarter-final due to their fine form before adding that they won over thousands of fans across the world for their fighting attitude.

He said he always earned respect and love whenever he toured Bangladesh as Bangladeshis love Pakistan cricketers.

However, the top-order batsman said no one should underestimate Pakistan talent especially youngsters who had first proved themselves at the domestic level and then in international practice matches to get selectors’ nod.

MOHAMMAD Hafeez speaks to media.—White Star

“We are going with a good number of youngsters but we are ready to face Bangladesh with authority, and we will give better results by showing unity in our ranks,” said the former T20 captain.

Answering a question, Hafeez said though it was a hard fact that every player had to retire, he missed both seasoned campaigners former captain Misbah-ul-Haq and all-rounder Shahid Afridi, for they were not in the camp on Tuesday due to their retirement from ODI cricket. The opener, however, added that now fans had to support youngsters.

While stating that players were more focusing on improving their fielding, the veteran batsman admitted they were still faced with problems in the fielding department, adding that better fielding could only be ensured by bringing reforms at domestic level.

The former all-rounder also wished all success to the new ODI captain Azhar Ali before stating that it was the best decision taken by the PCB.

“Our problem is not captaincy but lack of support to the captain. We as players and nation should support Azhar as he is a good choice and he has proved it. I believe he will prove his abilities both as a batsman and captain,” said Hafeez who was also a candidate for ODI captaincy but Azhar was preferred.

To a question whether he would be able to adjust himself with new openers in Sarfraz Ahmed and Sami Aslam, the top-order batsman said he had no knowledge which position he would play at, adding that playing at a particular batting order is not an issue but the major task ahead is to play with unity to help Pakistan earn top spot in ODI rankings.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2015

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