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EASTERN EYE May 29, 2009
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danish’S desire Kaneria eyes Pakistan recall by Zohaib Rashid DANISH KANERIA has not given up hope on playing again for Pakistan – despite featuring in only two matches in the past 18 months. The leg-spinner last turned out for his country during the ill-fated Test series with Sri Lanka back in February. That was his first game in international cricket since December 2007, when he played in the third Test against India at Bangalore. Kaneria was also left out of Pakistan’s squad for the World Twenty20 tournament which kicks off next Friday (5) – even though he has been plying his trade in England for the past five seasons. But the 28-year-old still believes he can do a job for his country – and hopes his form with Essex in the domestic Twenty20 competition will have the selectors watching. “I always have a belief and will EXPLOSIVE: Kaneria is featured in Big Hitter magazine work hard for that thing,” Kaneria cricket forever, and affected Pakistan’s chances of hosting said. “I have always wanted to play the shorter version of cricket teams for years to come. In fact, the country hasn’t had the because I’ve been a part of Essex for best of times in the past three years. Players have been plagued five years and done well in the limited by disputes and controversies, the loss of well-loved coach Bob Woolmer and accusations of ball-tampering. overs competitions for them. Kaneria though believes players need to find the strength to “I’m working hard, I have a positive attitude and hopefully things will go carry on no matter what happens. “That shouldn’t be the life of right for me. I hope I get a chance so I an international cricketer but these things happen, they are can prove I can bowl at international part of life and you have to be aware and you have to be bold level in the shorter version of the game. I enough to face these type of things that happen. You just need don’t have any complaints about any- to carry on. “Life doesn’t stop if something happens – you carry on and body else – if they are doing well they get selected, if they aren’t they might not be.” put those things behind you. At the time it hurts your mind but Kaneria has had a pretty successful in- you have to be a professional, not look back and always think ternational career in Test cricket, notching of the positives.” Pakistan will be looking to concentrate on performing well up 53 appearances since making his debut against England in 2001. He has picked up in the World Twenty20 tournament, and Kaneria insists his boys can go one better than last time out, when they lost to 225 wickets at an average of 34.87. His last match in the Test whites was in the India in the final in South Africa in 2007. “I think my team, Pakistan, are the favourites but India and second Test against Sri Lanka at Lahore in March. Kaneria toiled away on the first two South Africa might cause an upset. Pakistan have not played days, returning figures of 0-183, but it was the much cricket so there is an edge about that – Indians and shocking events on the morning of the third day which other players played in the IPL – which makes India and South Africa contenders too.” made the headlines. As the two teams made their way to the ground, masked gunmen opened fire, peppering the Sri Lankan team coach. n Read the full interview in this month’s Big Hitter magazine, That incident has changed the landscape of international out on Saturday (30) at all leading retailers.
Mallya: India can be a real force FORCE India owner Vijay Mallya believes the FIA’s proposed budget cap of £40 million could help the smaller teams compete with the sport’s big boys. The flamboyant Indian billionaire believes it makes sense in the current economic climate to find ways to reduce costs as well as levelling out the playing field. “As you well know, there are further discussions continuing on how to deal with 2010 and beyond,” Mallya said. “Every single business in the world under the current economic circumstances is being reengineered and restructured with the focus to reduce costs. “Why should Formula 1 be an exception? Force India is certainly well in favour of reducing the costs to levels that are affordable, whether it is in the form of a cap or finding progressive initiatives at an acceptable figure for all teams. We are working on it.
“But clearly as far as Force India is concerned, whether you call it a budget cap or a targeted amount to be spent, that is very, very essential or else the small independent teams will never be able to compete with those who have, in comparison, extraordinary budgets.” Mallya saw both his Force India drivers finish the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend. Italian Giancarlo Fisichella came close to breaking Force India’s duck, finishing in ninth, while Adrian Sutil came home in 14th. “It was a very encouraging weekend all round,” he said. “We got two cars into Q2 and finished within a whisker of the points – and all on merit. We’ve incremented our performance and raced it well, and we know we have more upgrades in the pipeline, which is a great motivating factor. “I would like to say thank you to both drivers for keeping focused and pushing so hard,
and to the entire team at the track and at the factory for keeping the momentum going until the end. “If we continue on the path we have now laid before us, I am certain we’ll achieve the success we all deserve.” And Mallya was adamant that India’s dream of hosting a F1 race in 2011 is still on track, despite reports that the project was in danger of being scrapped. “The promoters of the Formula 1 track and associated commercial complex have actually acquired the land and have announced that post the elections we’ve just got over, they are actually going to lay the foundation stone and build that track. “So I am very optimistic that it will be built in time and that we will have our first Formula 1 grand prix in India in 2011. It is going to be really special.”
OPTIMISTIC: Force India owner Vijay Mallya