Kamal goes from cast-off to cameo

Karachi-born Asim Kamal, who scored a face-saving half century on Wednesday for Pakistan, was not able to get a proper knock in the nets in ...

Karachi-born Asim Kamal, who scored a face-saving half century on Wednesday for Pakistan, was not able to get a proper knock in the nets in the lead-up to the second Test because he was not supposed to be picked in the playing eleven.

But a freak injury to all-rounder Abdul Razzaq that left him with a side strain opened the way for the left-hander to play his first Test for Pakistan since he scored 99, 0 and 38 in his first two Tests against South Africa last year in October.

Since those two Tests, Kamal failed to find a slot in the middle-order for either the one-dayers or Tests against New Zealand in the home and away series but fate finally smiled on him on Monday morning when he was told he would be playing the second Test.

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The compact left-hander went onto stroke a gutsy 73 runs to give Pakistan a real sniff of victory after they took a first innings lead of 202 runs over India.

‘‘When I went out to bat it was a pressure situation. But I decided to play my natural game and when Shoaib Akhtar came into bat I had a feeling he and the other tailenders would give me support.’’

‘‘I decided to play my natural game as the pitch was not that bad although the ball kept low. I think there is more pressure in a domestic match. But today I knew I had to score runs to convince everyone that I deserved a regular place in the batting line-up’’, he said.

His innings was a big turnaround in fortunes for him as he had to suffer the ignominy of being dropped from the original list of 22 probables who were called by the selectors for the training camp against India in February because the one-day series was rescheduled before the Tests.

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He was dropped because the selectors believe he is not an ideal one-day player. ‘‘It was disappointing to be dropped before even the camp training had started. But I always knew they would call me for the Test matches’’, he said.

Asim only answered a call-up from the selectors before the start of the test series last month on the persuasion of his mentor and former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif with whom he trains regularly and who pushed him to the top by promoting him at every level.

‘‘My father is a dialysis patient and was hospitalised. I was not sure if I should make myself available for the series. But Rashid told me I should not miss the opportunity.’’

(The News)