Interview

'I want to do well this time around'

Arshad Khan, the 33-year-old offspinner, is an oddity in this young Pakistan team, and admits as much

Nagraj Gollapudi
09-Mar-2005
Arshad Khan, the 33-year-old offspinner, is an oddity in this young Pakistan team, and admits as much. The last time he played was against England in 2000-01, after which he was injured - but now he's back, and hungry to prove his worth. Here he talks about his experiences with the new Pakistan set-up, his role as a support bowler, and his expectations:

1
'A spinner, like a fast bowler, matures as he gets older and understands his art well' © Getty Images
What do you make of your comeback?
From the time I was left out of the team, after the England tour in 2000-01, my perfomance was consistent. But if you look at my track record I rarely got a continuous run, just playing the odd series or two. That was because, back then, we had a very good spinner in Saqlain Mushtaq. This time around, the selectors couldn't find any young spinner, so they have given me another chance, based on my performances on the domestic circuit in the last four years, where I have been one of the leading wicket-takers.
But you had almost decided to stop playing last year?
Yes, it's true I was hardly motivated to play any more. Last year, while representing my home city, Peshawar, in a domestic match, some people troubled me, asking me to play for some other city, as they felt I was not capable enough to play for Peshawar. Peshawar didn't have any spinners and they wanted me out. Even the Pakistan Cricket Board felt that I should play for another city. But I just wanted to play for my own city. And I duly proved them wrong by picking up six wickets on a green-top against Lahore. Those wickets reassured me that I should continue playing domestic cricket, regardless of whether I would play international cricket once again. The last season has been very good for me as I was picking up wickets regularly on green tracks and many observers assured me that I could still make a comeback. Then the turning point came in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final against Faisalabad, where one of our fast bowlers got unfit, but I got their best players like Naved Latif, Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez out.
Inzamam told me, we will stay together, talk to each other and enjoy cricket
Did the call come as a surprise to you?
Yes, I was surprised. However, people were always confident of my performing well. In the past, too, I was called upon when they required me; it was never the case where I was a matchwinner and had cemented my place in the side. This time, too, they needed me and I am happy.
You are 33 and the average age of the Pakistan side is much younger than that. How do you blend in?
Certainly, I feel that I have come suddenly to a young team. Obviously, my fitness levels are lesser than theirs, but I have told myself that I will do everything possible to maintain the levels that would be as good as them. Though I am a reserved guy, I have managed to mix with the team quite well so far. Some of the youngsters play with me at Peshawar, and with the seniors like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan I am getting to blend in steadily.
How has the support been from your team-mates?
I have played with Inzy from my under-19 days. He told me that "saath me rahenge, gup shup karenge and cricket khelenge [We will stay together, talk to each other and enjoy cricket]." That support from him made me feel good, and I want to do well this time around.
Did you see a similar atmosphere last time you played for Pakistan
Last time it was different. Then, the attitude was: just play. This time around the boys are more or less from a similar age-group. Then both Bob Woolmer and Inzy have developed this unity which is very good: each day we offer namaz three or four times together. So when you do things together, talk together, you are building teamwork and unity. And if this continues this way, soon we would have a settled team.

1
'In domestic cricket I am a completely attacking bowler, but my role was always a defensive one on the international scene' © Getty Images
Most of your 30 Test wickets have been top-order scalps, haven't they?
That is not the case, as I can bowl at any stage. But it feels good if you get the better batsman out rather than a tailender, even though that too is a wicket. What used to happen when I played earlier, [was that] our bowling line-up was very strong with Wasim bhai, Waqar bhai and Saqlain. So I hardly had a chance to convert my two or three wickets into a five-for as these guys were top-class.
Your bowling is more of the restrictive type rather than attacking. Any plans to modify that?
In domestic cricket I am a completely attacking bowler, but my role was always a defensive one on the international scene. In the one-dayers I used to get the bowling between the 18/30-overs bracket, a phase when you can't attack.
Is that why your bowling average is pretty ordinary?
In Tests, it's not that bad, but I want to definitely work on that as I get my chances. I want to perform as well as I do on the domestic scene, and if I get my chance I will definitely try to raise my level to the stage at which an international cricketer should be.
What are the changes that have come into your bowling in the last four years?
There is not much variety, but I have got more experienced and now I can control my nerves unlike in my youth. And a spinner, like a fast bowler, matures as he gets older and understands his art well.
You've been a support bowler in the past, and the same is probably true this time with Danish Kaneria as the main spinner - how does that affect you?
There is this emptiness when you just remain as the support bowler. It's true, it's frustrating. People will only tell you you are a good bowler, but not that you are a support bowler. This time I want to prove that I am good enough as any.
What's your opinion about Kaneria?
My last Test, in Faisalabad against England, was his debut. He has improved a lot from those days. He is a big turner and has a good googly. The young boy is a fighter and always tries to attack good players. He is never afraid, and a legspinner who is not afraid will be successful.
With the constant changes in the squad have you accepted that your comeback could be a short-lived one?
I have come here to play well and prove myself. But if someone better than me comes and I am out I would still feel good. I will not regret it, as every player has a dream to play for his country and I did that as a youngster.