LAHORE: Fit-again Test paceman Mohammad Irfan reckons Pakistan have the potential to win the upcoming five-match One-day International series against Sri Lanka as he hopes to make use of the recent changes made to the limited-overs format of the game.

Speaking to reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday after attending a rain-shortened training camp along with fellow players Sohaib Maqsood, Mukhtar Ahmed and Adnan Akmal, Irfan said he had worked hard to regain fitness.

“I’ve been working really hard during the three-month layoff,” said the lanky Irfan whose last ODI came against South Africa at the World Cup.

Irfan admitted that the injury to fellow fast bowler Wahab Riaz had hit Pakistan’s chances but hoped the side will get its act together and win the series in order to ease their qualification passage to the 2017 Champions Trophy.

“I hope Wahab returns during the ODI series,” he said about the pacer who suffered an injury to his hand during the second Test against Sri Lanka.

“I think we have the potential to win the series.”

While Wahab remains doubtful for the ODI series, Irfan is likely to be selected in the squad which will most probably be announced on Friday.

And he’s hoping the recent changes to the game by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which he believes will be beneficial for fast bowlers, will help. “It will help the bowlers concede less runs and batsmen will have difficulty in slogging freely,” Irfan said.

The changes in the ODI rules see no batting powerplay from overs 15-40, five fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle from overs 41-50 while all ‘no-balls’ and not just ‘foot faults’ will result in free hit.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2015

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