The Pakistan-born Australian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed is well aware of the fact that he is not going to make it to the Australia squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, but is confident that he would do the job brilliantly if called upon at next year’s showpiece event in England.
The veteran leg-spinner, who hasn’t played for Australia since 2013, further insisted that he is currently just enjoying his game and his time at the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2018-19 with Sydney Thunders.
The 36-year-old is known for his brilliant ability to bamboozle the batsmen with a bag of tricks and he was at his clinical best on Monday (December 24), as the leg-spinner claimed three key scalps to help the Thunders to won the BBL encounter by 21-runs against the Sydney Sixers.
Impressing with Ahmed’s match-winning spell, New Zealand's Mitch McClenaghan took Twitter to suggest that he is a key to Australia’s success at next year’s World Cup 2019.
However, Fawad is pleased with McClenaghan’s comments but isn’t sure about getting the opportunity to add more to his three ODI caps for Australia in the prestigious event.
Ahmed told cricket.com.au on Tuesday, “It’s very nice of him, but it doesn’t look like it’s happening so I’m just going to enjoy myself here. I’m enjoying the day, I’m enjoying the present, and the future will take care of itself. If the opportunities come, I’m physically very fit and I’m bowling really well.”
He continued, “You’re always going to be happy serving your country, especially representing your country at the World Cup. I’m bowling really well, and hopefully, it will continue the same way and I can continue to contribute to the Sydney Thunder so we can win a few more games.”
On his bowling, the leg-spinner noted, “My thing is to execute it nicely; if I can bowl sliders, wrong’uns or whatever, I have to execute the ball with good pace and a good line and length.”
Meanwhile, he is confident of giving some headache to world-class batters in the World Cup if he would be called by Australia in England as he doesn’t literally feel the pressure of selection. He stated, “My last game was pretty good for Australia. My last T20, I took three for 25 against England in England, but unfortunately, I have never played after that. English conditions have been really good the last couple of years because it keeps a little bit dry and low, just like here.
As I said, if the opportunity comes, that’d be nice. I would love to bowl there because I have some experience over there because I played all my games in England, be that T20s or one-dayers. If I’m the backup spinner or whatever it is, it’s going to be great for me from my personal point of view, and hopefully, I can contribute to win a few more games for my country.”
Ahmed signed off by saying, “Any time during your career when you come back into the squad – any squad – is amazing. I’m in a better position and I’m in a better headspace with the way that I’m bawling because I don’t feel the pressure of selection, so I can just enjoy my time.”
(With Cricket Australia Network Inputs)
