‘Frustrated’ Tanvir hopes to play for Pakistan again

DUBAI: It’s almost been a year since Sohail Tanvir last represented Pakistan.On April Fools’ Day at Port of Spain last year, the left-arm pacer was hammered by the West Indians on their way to a comfortable seven-wicket win with 31 balls to spare. Sohail finished with unflattering figures of 40-1.

He hasn’t donned national colours since that game despite delivering a series of impressive performances in various T20 leagues including the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League.Is that frustrating for the 33-year-old, who was once regarded among the most destructive bowlers in the fastest format of the game?

You bet it is.“My job is to deliver,” Sohail said when asked whether he was disappointed with the selectors who have been giving him a cold shoulder in recent times.When asked again, in a different way, Sohail repeated himself.“I don’t know, I have no answer. My aim is to deliver, and that I’ll continue to do.

“The rest is in the authorities’ hands... whatever they wish to do.”But finally Sohail, who has taken eight wickets in five PSL outings this season including two match-winning three-wicket hauls in back-to-back matches against Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi, admitted that he did feel dejected.

“There’s a lot of frustration, it happens. I don’t speak about it in the media but definitely, there’s a lot of frustration,” he said.“As a player, when you’re doing good... you’re doing good around the world, but somehow or the other, you are not able to play for your country,” he lamented.

Sohail, who has played for various T20 franchises like Guyana Amazon Warriors, Hampshire, Rajasthan Royals, South Australia, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, St Lucia Zouks and Sylhet Royals, stressed that there was nothing bigger than performing national duty.

“The money that I would earn playing for [the national team of] Pakistan might be significantly lower than what I currently earn playing abroad,” he said.“But I have so much passion... there have been so many instances that you all have seen where I have chosen Pakistan over money. I have left my league contracts, but, at the end of the day, I faced rejection.

“It is extremely challenging to motivate oneself during situations like this. When it’s a brief time period, motivating oneself is easier, but when it keeps dragging on and on, it becomes more difficult.”

However, Sohail said that he was ready to play for Pakistan and give his best whenever his services will be required.“I have no regrets. Even if another similar situation comes up next time, whenever Pakistan team requires my services, I’ll be the first one to [offer my services],” he said.

Sohail, whose biggest weakness is inconsistency, credited legends Wasim Akram and Viv Legends for his good showing in PSL 3.“I’m thankful that Wasim bhai is here.“Also, just today, I met Viv Richards in the lobby [and] his words were quite helpful in my performance today and I dedicate today’s game to him.“His words... I don’t want to mention them... but the way he motivated me, he was like you have to keep working. It’s a simple theory: you have to keep up the hard work,” Sohail said.