London (Online): Opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez, who has failed to make an impression in the ongoing Test series against England, has vowed to deliver if selected for the final Test at The Oval.
In the ongoing series, Hafeez has been underwhelming after having scored just 102 runs from six innings at an average of 17.00.
In the England conditions, the role of the opening batsmen is quite crucial given the way the new ball swings and Hafeez’s lack of performance has put the pressure on the middle order.
The 35-year-old, who enjoyed a good run in 2015 with 710 runs from seven matches at an average of 59.16 is confident that the current run of poor scores is just a lean patch.
“I may have missed a couple of chances to play a big innings but I am not disappointed as I know this is how it goes sometimes in cricket,” Hafeez told PakPassion.net in an exclusive interview.
“I am confident that I am playing well and God Willing I will be able to convert these starts to big scores in the near future.
“All cricketers go through lean patches but hopefully, if selected, at the Oval I will show people what I am capable of as a batsman.”
Pakistan started the series strongly with a convincing win at Lord’s in the first Test but went on to lose the next two games, handing England a 2-1 lead.
This means that the final game at The Oval is a must-win situation for Pakistan if they want to avoid a series defeat.
Stating that the win at Lord’s was a good confidence booster for Pakistan, Hafeez credited England for bouncing back from that defeat to take an unassailable 2-1 lead.
“The way we started the series at Lord’s was pleasant to watch and very uplifting for us as well.
“All team members stepped up and performed well but then we must also give credit to England for responding to the pressure of losing the first Test and winning the second and third Test matches.
“I must say that as a team we are still very confident for the remaining Test match.
“If you recall, I also expressed those sentiments before the start of the series when I said that we would do very well in England as we believe in each other’s abilities and have faith in our batting and bowling units.”
Hafeez, whose off-spin was quite handy for Pakistan in the past, is currently aiming to have his action cleared in order to resume bowling after his 12-month ban recently expired.
Former Leicestershire and Berkshire spinner Carl Crowe, who previously worked with Sunil Narine to rectify his bowling action, has been hired by the Pakistan Cricket Board to help Hafeez in this process.
Convinced that Crowe’s advice will help him get his action cleared, Hafeez is eager to return to bowling in international cricket.
“Carl has worked with many bowlers such as Sunil Narine who have been going through some difficulties with their bowling actions.
“He gives you the basics of what is needed and it is up to you to apply those techniques to yourself and see how your body responds to the changes he has recommended.
“In my case, he has given me advice and it’s up to me to now put that into practice and I hope I will be back soon as a bowler in the near future.”
The last time Pakistan drew an away Test series against England was in the year 2001 and since then they have played two times and lost in both the away campaigns in 2006 and 2010.
