KARACHI, Jan 22: Pakistan’s dashing opening batsman Nasir Jamshed said on Tuesday that he wanted to boost his reputation on the tour of South Africa as he gets ready to play outside Asia for the first time.

“I don’t want to be tagged as an Asia-oriented batsman,” Nasir said according to report published in a website the other day. “It’s the line between an average and world-class player,” he added, claiming that success around the world was the key to success.

Left-handed Nasir, 23, made his international debut in early 2008, in the home ODI series against Zimbabwe. He had a relatively tidy stint between 2008 and 2009, playing mostly against Asian teams in Asia, before missing out due to fitness issues.

After two-and-a-half years he returned to international cricket last year, scored 602 runs at 66.88. So far he has played 22 ODIs and 11 T20Is, all in Asia.

Nasir said: “I haven’t played outside Asia and the tour to South Africa will be my first real test and I am prepared for it.”

He conceded that he was yet to face a “tough” bowler in international cricket and said that he was expecting tougher competition in South Africa. “I have not played out of Asia and therefore I am yet to face top bowlers in world cricket. So it would be a unique experience for me to bat against South Africa’s world-class bowlers in South Africa,” he remarked.

“I have never been to South Africa at any stage of my career but I know the pitches there are always challenging surfaces. I don’t want to know what happened on the past tours. But everyday is a new day and things do improve with time. It obviously will be tough but we are well-prepared for it and I have my plans as an opener,” Nasir said.—APP