From bigstarcricket.com Diary I haven’t played any cricket for a month - I last played a few domestic one-day matches for Habib Bank. I have still been busy though as I have become a father for the second time. My son Nadish was born on April 24 so I have tried to support my wife as best as possible. People say that I now have the complete family with a wife, daughter and now a son, but I have to say that I wasn’t bothered whether I had a son or a daughter. The same opportunities are available in the world now for men and women. I just wanted a healthy baby and by the grace of God that is what we had. We called him Nadish because the name means a vast ocean that is full of prosperity, knowledge and one that never stops flowing. Hopefully he will develop these qualities in time. On the cricket, although I would have loved the opportunity to have bowled against Australia on Pakistani wickets, I don’t believe that tour being postponed or the fact I haven’t played much lately has hindered me. I feel refreshed and I’m sure Essex will benefit from the fact I am itching to bowl again. I arrive there on Monday (May 19) and will probably start my season that week. The boys and the coaches have called me and wished me all the best with my son and it was nice to hear from them. (The batting coach) Graham Gooch also phoned to congratulate me and ask about my fitness etc. I have been following the team’s progress over the internet so I am up to speed with their results. Four months of county cricket is just what I need now after my break and I want to use that time to work on my bowling as I have not had the best results in the last two or three years in Test cricket though I wouldn’t say I have been out of form, maybe a bit unlucky with decisions not going my way and a few dropped catches and playing on pitches that haven’t suited me all that much. Somebody told me the other day that I have claimed one five-wicket haul in Tests in the last three years and 11 before then. But sometimes the figures don’t tell the whole story. It is obvious to me that batsmen now know a lot more about me than when I first came on the scene, and have studied my deliveries on video and have discussed my bowling in team meetings. I am not discouraged by this though, it just means I have to keep working hard at my game to continually improve and try to keep coming up with new tricks to fox the batsmen. I believe in myself a lot and I need only another 16 wickets to equal Abdul Qadir’s 236 Test wickets and once I am past him I will be Pakistan’s most successful spinner ever. I think it is important for me to remember things like this when my bowling is being doubted or not producing the results that I would always like. A season with Essex is not only a chance to win things and help them to titles but I am also keen to bowl well in the limited overs competitions. I haven’t always had the best of opportunities in one-day cricket and I want to say to the Pakistan selectors that I will always be available for this format for my country no matter who the opposition is and no matter how flat the pitch might be, I will be putting up my hand for a game. It was also frustrating to see many of my Pakistan team-mates involved with the IPL and not being offered a contract. I suppose the franchises do not see me as a one-day bowler because of my limited experience in this form with Pakistan but I am a wicket taker and there is no better way to keep the runs down in 50-over or 20-over cricket than to take wickets. I would love to be offered an IPL contract next time so the Twenty20 Cup with Essex next month will be a chance for me to prove myself in this format. Wish me luck and maybe I will see some of you in England during the season. © Copyright bigstarcricket.com |