Pak keeper Zulqarnain Haider vows to justify recall to national squad

Young Pakistan wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider is elated over his inclusion in the team for the upcoming Test series against Australia and hosts England, and has said that he would give his best to justify the recall in the national squad.

“I was expecting it; I feel very confident and Inshallah (God willing) I will do well,” Haider told PakPassion.net.

Haider, who has been roped in as a backup for wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, said that he has played plenty of county cricket in England, so adapting to the conditions there would not be an issue.

“I’ve played the U15 World Cup in England; I played as a batsman in the final at Lord’s, and so the conditions are not new to me. I’ve also played five-six years of league cricket, so I feel I am familiar and well-prepared for English conditions,” said the 24-year-old wicketkeeper from Lahore.

Haider said he is aware that he would have to wait to get into the final playing eleven as Akmal remains the first preference of the team management, but added that he would prove his mettle and try to establish himself as a permanent member of the squad during the exhaustive tour.

 “Dropping catches is part of the game, but not in every match. I am hoping I will get a chance in the Test matches, and I am not going there to just to make up the numbers. I will do my absolute best to establish myself in the Pakistan team,” he said.