'Excited' Sami out to prove a point in ICC World T20 Championship

Islamabad, Apr.23 (ANI): Pakistan fast bowler Mohammed Sami is delighted to have been selected in the T20 squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Championship in West Indies, and said he is aware of his responsibilities as he was replacing one of best T20 bowlers, Umar Gul, in the team.

Sami said he would be under pressure to perform during the tournament, but added that he is ready to handle it and would give his best.

"Yes, I am replacing one of the best T20 bowlers around, and of course there will be a lot of pressure, but I am up for the challenge," Sami told PakPassion.net

"Despite representing Pakistan in a number of Test matches and ODIs, I have never played for Pakistan in the T20 format. I will try to contribute towards the team's success," he added.

Looking back at his career, Sami, who was once even compared with Australia's Brett Lee and teammate Shoaib Akhtar for his raw pace, candidly admitted that the way his career started, he could have gone on to become one of Pakistan's leading wicket takers in both Tests and limited over cricket.

"Yes I started very well in international cricket, but unfortunately I didn't do as well later on as I should have," he said.

Sami attributed his subsequent weak performances over the years to bad luck, bad form and fitness, and a large number of dropped catches off his bowling, but expressed the hope that he would do well in future.

"I am hoping that I will do well in future and Insha Allah the fielders will start backing me up as well," he said.

Sami thanked former captains Imran Khan and Wasim Akram for supporting him throughout his career and helping him in improving his game.

"Imran Khan is one person who has supported me throughout, and I am very grateful to him. He and Wasim Akram are the two players I grew up watching. They are my cricketing heroes," he said. (ANI)