Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez on Friday said that his eagerness to clear the bowling test is not driven by his will to revive his international career but merely because he misses operating with the cricket ball. “I am not looking to revive my international career by clearing this bowling test,” Hafeez told journalists at a press conference in Karachi. “My batting statistics speak for themselves. I just want to satisfy the bowler inside me after clearing this test.”

When asked about the bowling test he recently underwent in a biomechanics lab at Brisbane’s International Cricket Council (ICC)-accredited laboratory, Hafeez said he was hopeful of a positive result. “I am hopeful of the test,” he said, “I was working on it for the last one year. I am thankful to people who helped me. I want to play the role of an all-rounder again as I did before the ban.” He added: “I am a simple off-spin bowler. I never bowled with extensive variety so I gave a simple off-spin bowling test. My action has been remodeled. Whatever I did earlier was natural and now I have changed my action a little. I was hit for sixes and fours earlier as well but the repetition I have added to my new action will make it as effective.”

The 36-year-old denied claims that his already flailing batting form will be affected if he had to bowl as well. “Returning as an all-rounder won’t put more pressure on me. My bowling had always allowed for a better combination for the captain,” said Hafeez.

The right-hand batsman had to leave the tour of England due to an injury after an under-par showing with the bat and he admitted it. “My fitness is fine now. As for my comeback, my performance against England was not good – I admit that.”

When asked if he fails the bowling test, Hafeez said things won’t change much for him because he always considered himself a batsman first. “Whatever the result maybe, it will not affect me. Even if I fail, I will work harder to clear the action. I just miss bowling.” On a question of if he is in favour of day-night Tests, Hafeez said the five-day format should not be tampered with. “I am against changing the tradition of Test cricket. Pink ball has a lot of issues. The beauty of Test cricket should not be altered,” concluded Hafeez.