Fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, the only cricketer from Kerala named in India's one-day international squad on Sunday, said he was excited to play the arch-rivals Pakistan in their own backyard.
"I am grateful to the Almighty. I really wanted an opportunity and am really excited to go to Pakistan. It was my childhood dream and ambition to play against Pakistan," an elated Sreesanth told PTI.
Sreesanth was today included in the 15-member Indian team which will play five ODIs starting early next month. He last played for the country in the one-dayers against Sri Lanka and South Africa.
"We are doing well in the one-day series. I wanted an opportunity and it was God's grace that the opportunity has come," he said.
The 22-year-old became the second Kerala cricketer to get into the Indian team when he was chosen for the Sri Lankan series. Another fast bowler from his state Tinu Yohannan had achieved the honour four years ago.
Sreesanth was inducted into the team following his brilliant performance in the Challenger series, in which he won the 'Man of the series' award.
Former BCCI Secretary and Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) President S K Nair expressed his happiness over Sreesanth's selection into the team.
| |||||||||||
Without consistency, it would be difficult to get a permanent place in the team in the long run, he said.
Sreesanth, had put up a good performance against the Sri Lankans and would have to come up with a couple of outstanding performances against Pakistan also, he said.
"He has the advantage of being a right-hand bowler, since our team had more left-hand pace bowlers," Nair said adding he would go to Pakistan to watch two one-dayers at Rawalpindi and Lahore.
More from rediff