LAHORE: Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez, whose place in the Test side is under severe threat, admitted yesterday that his poor form was a concern.
The 32-year-old right-hander managed a paltry 43 in three Tests in South Africa in February-March and failed to improve in the two Tests against Zimbabwe earlier this month, scoring just 59.
The poor return has put the 34-Test veteran’s place in doubt for the two-match series against South Africa starting in the United Arab Emirates from October 14.
“I am trying my level best, there’s no tension or pressure on me. Obviously it’s a concern that I could not score big,” Hafeez, Pakistan captain in the Twenty20 format, told reporters.
“It’s not the bad patch, it’s not the form too, it happens in cricket, you try your best but sometimes you can’t perform in that particular format.
“I was man-of-the-series in one-day series during which I scored a century,” said Hafeez, of the series against Zimbabwe, which Pakistan won 2-1.
“It happens in cricket, you try your best but sometimes you can’t perform in a particular format. It’s not a matter of technique even, the ball is coming on to my bat but I am not able to play a big innings. It happens with any big cricketer.”
Pakistan selectors are due to announce today the squad for the South Africa series.
“It’s the selectors’ job to pick the best team for Pakistan. If they think my place is there in the team, they will pick me,” he said.
“If a player is not selected it’s always a challenge for that player to do hard work and make a comeback and prove that he is good enough to play for Pakistan.”
Pakistan and South Africa also play five one-day and two Twenty20 internationals.
Meanwhile, Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has said he is eyeing a return to competitive cricket after a knee injury he suffered in South Africa kept him out of action for more than six months.
Gul suffered the injury in the second ODI of the series against South Africa and six weeks after undergoing a knee surgery in Australia in May, he started his rehabilitation programme at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
“I’m pretty optimistic of getting back the rhythm as I feel fine at the moment,” Gul told Dawn, a Pakistan daily.
“It is just that there is no competition at present to find out the actual status of (my) fitness. Everything appears to be settling down. The knee is fine with no signs of ill-effects from the surgery I had a few months ago. Over the past 15 days, I have started bowling in the nets as well.”
Gul said he has started bowling in the nets but the absence of any form of cricket currently has made it difficult for him to assess his fitness and form properly.
“I am yearning to play some matches to test myself,” he said. “Although I have trained (during rehabilitation) and then bowling (in the nets) , one can’t aspire to judge both the level of fitness and form if there is no competitive sort of matches,” Gul said.
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