CricketViewer.com

Pakistan’s discarded all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been asking himself a question again and again these days. Why am I not in the Pakistan team?

He asked that same query again in a column for bbc.co.uk on Wednesday just before the start of Pakistan’s fourth Test against England here at The Oval, a venue where Azhar plays most of his cricket these days.

Pakistan have been thrashed in the previous two Tests by the hosts and their prospects do not look any brighter in the final Test. Azhar believes he could become a part of the solution for the visitors. “I would love to be part of the solution and I have no idea why I’m not in the team.”

He added: “I’ve been doing well here for the last five years and I know these conditions very well. I’m fully fit and I have been bowling really well.” Azhar, 25, has scored 900 runs and taken 39 wickets from 21 Test appearances for Pakistan besides posting 1492 runs and earning 122 wickets from 139 one-day matches.

His last Test appearance was on Pakistan’s 2001 tour of England when he played at Old Trafford. He scored 37 and 14 but went wicketless. Azhar’s last one-dayer for Pakistan came last year against Australia in Sydney. He scored 13 and bowled just one ball.

The talented Rawalpindi-born player rejected the impression that he has said goodbye to international cricket making it clear that he is still fancying the chance to represent his country again. Azhar, who has been playing for Surrey for the last few seasons, believes he should have been a part of the Pakistan team at the Oval because he is familiar with the conditions here and could have strengthened their line-up. He is hoping for a recall in the squad for the five-match one-day series starting from August 30 in Cardiff.

Source:The News