LONDON, Sept 22: Pakistan’s lanky leg-spinner Danish Kaneria on Friday said he had enjoyed his county season with Essex this year and was keen to stay on for another year with the team. “I have enjoyed this season with Essex and have taken 109 wickets in all competitions despite missing a month due to fitness problems,” said Kaneria in a recent interview to well-known cricket website ‘bigstarcricket.com.’

“I am looking forward to coming back next year and I am also in talks about returning in 2009 as well. I want to help take the club into Division One which is where it deserves to be. Obviously, any contract will have to be agreed by the Pakistan Cricket Board as is always the case.”

Kaneria, who is set to depart for his hometown Karachi later this week, said he was excited about the challenging home assignments against South Africa and later against the world champions Australia. “It’s time for me to focus on Pakistan again now with a big season ahead. I am looking forward to meeting our new coach Geoff Lawson, who is a legendary fast bowler, and our new skipper Shoaib Malik. It will be good to sit down with both of them and hear their ideas for the matches ahead.”

“The South Africa series is a very big one for me and for Pakistan. South Africa is a very strong team and if we can beat them in the series it would give us a lot of confidence for the tour to India. On a personal note, I am on 198 Test wickets (from 46 Tests) and I am looking forward to reaching 200 in the South Africa series.”—Agencies