Kaneria presses World Twenty20 claim by AFP

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Player:

Danish Kaneria

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DateLine: 29th April 2009

 

After missing out on the chance to impress in the Indian Premier League (IPL), leg-spinner Danish Kaneria is hoping his performances for Essex will persuade Pakistan's selectors to include him in their squad for the World Twenty20 here in June.

 

Kaneria, who was unable to feature in the IPL after Pakistan's government refused permission for players to travel to India, has never played 20-over cricket for his country and has not been in a one-day side since 2007.

 

But he has shown with Essex he can be a threat in the shorter format, taking 20 wickets last year in the Twenty20 Cup, the third biggest haul in the tournament.

 

"The Indian Premier League would have been the ideal platform to dismiss this impression that I cannot play Twenty20 cricket," Kaneria said.

 

"I have been doing well for Essex in this format for the last couple of years and I want to show people that I am not just a bowler suited to Test and first-class cricket," he said.

 

"I think if I do well for Essex in Twenty20 and one-day cricket then it would be a big plus when the selectors sit down to finalise the Twenty20 squad.

 

"The fact the event is in England where I was one of the top wicket-takers in the Twenty20 Cup last year will hopefully aid my case.

 

"The selectors know that I am used to the conditions."

 

Kaneria said he had the support of captain Younus Khan.

 

"I had a long chat with Younus and he has raised my morale," he said.

 

"He advised me to keep working hard on my bowling and fielding and not to give up hope."

(Article: Copyright © 2009 AFP)