Management wants me to bat after 12 overs: Iftikhar

By our correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan’s key finisher Iftikhar Ahmed on Saturday revealed that the team management and skipper want him to bat after 12 overs in T20 cricket which they feel will benefit the team.
“I have talked to the management and skipper and they want me to bat after 12 overs because they believe that batting from me at that situation will benefit the team,” Iftikhar told a group of reporters here after the first training session of Pakistan team for the Ireland and England series at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
“I also think that in the last few overs I have been effective and you have seen this in the PSL and before that as well,” Iftikhar was quick to add.
“I have batted at every number at domestic. I have played at No4 and also at No5. Look, in Pakistan team your desire does not come first and you have to play according to the combination. Irrespective of the batting position I believe that at any position and in any condition I can do better for the country,” Iftikhar said.
Iftikhar said that the Ireland and England series are very important ahead of the World Cup.
“Both these series are very important for the World Cup as here we have to gel well. In these two series hopefully the World Cup playing XI will be fielded and inshaAllah we will go into the World Cup with a positive mind and good passion,” Iftikhar said.
Iftikhar feels that they should improve their strike rate.
“Yes the entire world does this that they try to bring down their asking run rate and we are working on this. We have been given small targets and if you have batted with good strike rate at the top of the order it eases pressure off the batting to come. Babar, Rizwan, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman bat at the top order and they are big players and they will not take long in adjustment,” Iftikhar said.
Asked about his goal in the World Cup Iftikhar said that he will be playing for the first time in the West Indies and US.
“I have not visited West Indies before and also will be playing in the US for the first time. But you know professional players adapt to the conditions whatever will be and I plan to seal wins for the nation. You see we are training keeping in view the conditions in the West Indies. Playing sweep shots and reverse sweeps because spinners will be more effective and we are working on that and hopefully the things will be better,” Iftikhar added.
When Iftikhar comes to bat he is normally to negotiate just a few balls and it really is a tricky job mostly.
“But as a batsman I want some time like five to six balls to get settled and then to attack,” he said.
“It depends on conditions and if you see that you can score runs you go for a big shot even from the first ball you play and if conditions are tough then one takes time before going forward,” Iftikhar said.