Kaif elated about new role

Chennai, July 7 (UNI) Mohammed Kaif, of late the topic of discussion about the intriguing ways of selection after being omitted from Team India, was batting at the nets in MRF Pace Foundation here as the news of his 'resurrection', as it were as Captain of India 'A' tour to Zimbabwe and Kenya broke.

Kaif arrived here last evening from New Delhi to make use of the facilities at the Pace Foundation to keep himself fit practice schedule in Delhi was disrupted due to rains.

Newspersons from the print media and a few television channels gathered at the Pace Foundation to hear Kaif say that he was ''happy to be back'' again. They had often been rushing to the Foundtion in the last two weeks, what with the likes of Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel and even the young Aussie pacer Mitchell Johnson being here for rehabilitation for another hectic season ahead.

Kaif had last played for Team India in the Test match against the West Indies at Kingston in June 2006 scoring 13 and 6, and in an ODIs against South Africa at Port Elizabeth. He scored just ten runs.

His Test match debut was against South Africa in March 2000 while in the ODIs he first played against England at Kanpur in 2002-03 Champions Trophy competition. In 13 Tests, Kaif has a score of 148 n.o as his best against the West Indies and three 50s. In 125 ODIs, Kaif has registered one century knock of 111 n.o against Zimbabwe, as his best score.

Seen as a good fielder, he has taken 55 catches in ODIs and, 14 in Test matches.

UNI