KARACHI: Sajid Khan, an emerging off-spinner and leading goalkeeper from the recently completed Quaid-e-Azam Cup, said on Sunday he would do his best to meet the bill if given the opportunity to represent Pakistan against South Africa. in the two-match Test series.
“If I get the chance, I will try to give my best,” he told a virtual press conference.
Sajid was the only off-spinner specialist in Pakistan’s early 20 member squad. The first of two series of matches begins at the National Stadium starting 26 January.
Sajid completed the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with 67 scalps for his award representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a six-team event.
His contribution helped his team share the QT trophy with Central Punjab after the final ended with a pulsating match here at the National Stadium earlier this month when Sajid took over the goal of Waqas Maqsood, held by Kamran Ghulam midway through the match.
Sajid said he could not express how happy he was for his selection in the 20-man squad. “I am very happy. I do well and are rewarded. I feel extraordinary, “said Sajid.
Sajid was sure that he had the ability to click without a doosra. “There are some successful spinners without doosra. And InsyaAllah I will appear without prayer, ”said Sajid, who followed Mohammad Hafeez and Saqlain Mushtaq as his role models.
“I didn’t target any hitters from South Africa. I will throw my way of playing domestic cricket. I will bowl to see the behavior of the goal and will try to take advantage of the weaknesses of the batsmen, “said Sajid.
When asked if he was not selected in the final 16-man squad how he would react, Sajid said it was still a great opportunity for him to be selected in the 20-member squad.
“Coming with 20 squad members is no small feat. It is a great honor for me that I have been named in the squad of 20 people out of a whole 200 million population. If I sit outside and Pakistan keep beating South Africa it will be a huge honor for me, “he said.
Sajid said choosing the best domestic cricket player would also motivate other youngsters and they would also try to click at the domestic level to find a place in the national team.
“Our coach Abdul Razzaq was having a meeting when the news came that I had been selected in the Pakistani team. This is a proud moment for me and the whole family, “he said.
Sajid said he would study in the national team camp. “I will learn when I join the stronghold of the national team and share the dressing room. It will build my confidence, ”said the spinner.
Sajid said that the live broadcast of the Quaid-e-Azam Cup match helped the players.