Pakistan fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan hopes that the tour of India will help him mature as a cricketer besides assisting him in cementing his place in the Test team.
"It will be a big tour for me and I am eagerly looking forward to it. I am confident that this tour will help me mature as a cricketer and I will be able to permanently cement my place as a genuine fast bowler in the Test team," said the 27-year-old medium-pacer from Lahore as Pakistan prepared to leave for India on their first tour in six years.
Naved first burst onto international scene with his one-day debut against Sri Lanka at Sharjah immediately after the World Cup when Pakistan dropped eight players after the first round exit.
He has also played two Tests but more importantly has been given a lead role in the absence of fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar who is down with hamstring injury.
"India will be a great learning place because I will be playing against the best from whom I have an excellent opportunity to learn. The wickets will make me think and push me to keep trying something different," Naved, who has taken 33 wickets in 22 one-day internationals, said.
"I can say that the wickets will have low bounce and they will be slow. It will be a different experience because I will be coming after bowling in bouncy and quicker Australian tracks."
"In Australia, I wished I would get Brian Lara and my dream came true. Now I am praying to get a few top Indian batsmen wickets, including Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar," Naved said.
"Rahul is my favorite batsmen while Sachin is a great batsman. It would be a personal satisfaction if I manage to get their wickets."
The Sheikhupura-born Naved, respected in Pakistan cricket circles because of his commitment and dedication, said he was delighted to be bestowed with the responsibility of sharing the new ball in India.
"Shoaib Akhtar's loss has been my gain and I am delighted with the prospects of sharing the new ball in India. Opening the bowling for Pakistan means a lot of responsibility on my shoulders besides the honour of being bracketed in history with legends like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Sarfraz Nawaz who have opened the Pakistan attack with the new cherry.
"We will all miss Shoaib Akhtar. He is a great bowler and he will be missed. But we will try our best to put his absence behind us and try to perform with whatever resources we have. We are a well knit team with each player backing the other for this important assignment," Naved, who will shoulder bowling responsibilities with Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Khalil, said.
Naved said he has heard that fast bowlers hunt in pairs but added he was too early in his career to form a pair.
"Maybe, this tour will give me my partner. I have not set high goals for myself on the Indian tour. My ambition is to get early Indian wickets and have a lion's share in Pakistan's performance on the tour. A wicket that helps Pakistan win the Test will be better than bagful of wickets in a lost Test."
Besides performance in the field, Naved said he would like to utilise free time in sight seeing and visiting historic places.
"India has a rich history and if cricket permitted, I will try to go anywhere I can. But on top of the priority list is Ajmer while the second is Taj Mahal," Naved said.
Naved said he would be missing his father who died during the first tri-nation series final against Australia last month.
"This will be the first time I will leave my home without meeting him. He had been a huge influence on my career. He always supported and backed me throughout my life, even when I was performing but not getting a chance at the highest level.
"When I was first selected, he told me that it was easy to get in the team but very difficult to stay there.
"He had advised me to work hard, pray five times a day and always thank the Almighty for whatever he has given. I am religiously following his advice and the God is helping me," Naved said.
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