da brwin： Promising Taufiq Umer Saturday said he would try to justify hisselection and hoped that he would not prove to be a ‘onematch’wonder
26-Aug-2001Promising Taufiq Umer Saturday said he would try to justify hisselection and hoped that he would not prove to be a ‘onematch’wonder. Shortly after being named in the Pakistan squad for the AsianTest Championship match against Bangladesh , the soft-spoken openersaid: “I have no words to thank the selectors and the Pakistan CricketBoard (PCB) who showed trust and confidence in me.”Taufiq said he knew the tough task which lay ahead but hoped that ifhe continued his hard work, his efforts would not go in vain. “Ialways had the confidence that if I worked hard, I would be rewarded.”I know I will be in a company of and great players. But I will not beover-awed. Instead I will try to impress them and learn as much as Ican. One thing I am sure of is I will be considered part of the teambecause the senior players supported and backed me a lot during thetraining camp,”Taufiq said.Taufiq said he was looking forward to capitalize on his form andcement his place in the team. “I think I am timing the ball well andit can’t be a better time to play a big innings very early in thecareer if I am played at Multan. My feet are still on ground as it isjust the beginning.”The 20-year-old lad from Lahore has played 29 first-class games inwhich he has scored 1,737 runs at 36.18 with three centuries and 10half centuries. Taufiq, who was born on June 20, said he came to knowabout his selection after he had been dismissed. “Frankly speaking,the delight of being selected for the Test was more than scoring acentury. But naturally, the century had its own significance andimportance.”I think I have improved a lot as a player in the National CricketAcademy where I received some excellent tips from the coaches,including Mudassar Nazar and Geoffrey Boycott. Many may not like ordisagree with the idea of the academy but I know how much I havebenefited from it,” he said.Taufiq is tied for the second opener’s slot with Imran Nazir as SaeedAnwar looks an automatic selection. If current form is the criterion,Taufiq will upstage Imran but if Waqar Younis prefers a left and righthand combination, Imran Nazir might get in. However, Pakistan’s one ofthe most successful openers in recent times have been the combinationof two left-handers – Saeed and Aamir Sohail.