PESHAWAR: Young all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed says Pakistan’s rise to top ranking in Test cricket is due to hard work and captain Misbah-ul-Haq’s dedication and sincerity.

Talking at a reception which was organised in his honour in Peshawar, Iftikhar said he felt proud to see Pakistan at the top and expressed hope that the team would come up to its fans’ expectations.

“I want to compliment everyone who has been involved in the process, including all the players, management and our fans who remained committed to us and continued to back us even when we failed to perform,” the Peshawar-born player said.

“I feel great to see Pakistan attaining the number one place in the most traditional and purest format of the sport,” Iftikhar, 25, added.

“This did not happen in a day. We worked continuously hard for that and skipper Misbah should be praised,” he further said.

He assured the gathering that he would continue working hard to achieve name and fame for the motherland.

Iftikhar was of the view that Peshawar was full of talent which needed to be discovered and polished.

“I started cricket in Gymkhana ground and I am very kind to former secretaries of Peshawar District Cricket Association Asghar Khan and Hanif Shah, and my coach Sajjad Akhtar.”

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2016