ISLAMABAD - Pakistan will bounce back strongly against Sri Lanka in the second Test starting from June 30, hoped all-rounder Sohail Tanvir while talking to this scribe during a formal chat on Wednesday.
He said: "Pakistan has the ability to bounce back as poor umpiring decisions also went against us while our batsmen failed to deliver against Sri Lanka that were the main reasons for our defeat in the Galle Test. There are still two more Tests remaining and I am sure that Pakistan will bounce back strongly and level the series 1-all against Lankans in Colombo Test,” he claimed.
He said that some poor shots selection and irresponsible batting from batsmen also helped Sri Lanka to score big win but defeat and victory is the part of the game. One thing which also allowed Sri Lankans to score such a big total as our bowlers fail to deliver on the first day but they fight back on the second day and took 8 wickets for 172 runs to restrict them to 472 as after stumps on day one when Sri Lanka were 300/2 it felt that they will pile up around 600 runs. But Saeed Ajmal bowled well and he took five wickets and restricted Lankans to 472 runs.
To a question, Sohail Tanvir who was also the man of the series in T20s against Sri Lanka said: “I have played three-day games at domestic level and I think am in the best shape and if selectors requires my services in the longer version of the game I will be available at any time to serve my country. Sohail is waiting for UK visa to play county cricket.
Talking about the upcoming series against Australia, Sohail said: "Cricket spectators would witness the quality cricket in UAE this year between the two evenly balanced sides. I am eagerly waiting for the series as I heard that there would be a lot of T20s and with that we could better prepare for the forthcoming T20 World Cup that is scheduled to be held in September in Sri Lanka", he added.
Tanvir also praised the efforts of Chairman PCB Chaudhry M Zaka Ashraf for using his influence and trying to restore cricketing ties with arch-rival India, "It is due to the hard work of Zaka Ashraf that India invited Sialkot Stallions for the Champions League and I am sure the doors now would be opened for Pakistani cricketers to feature in IPL as I have some good memories in India", he added.
He further said, Zaka Ashraf had almost brought back international cricket to Pakistan as Bangladesh team was coming to play but some hidden elements spoiled all the good work done by the chairman, but he is sure that Zaka’s efforts would soon bring international cricket back to Pakistan, Sohail concluded.