Pakistan leg spinner Danish Kaneria speaks exclusively with PakPassion.net about the ongoing World Twenty20, the importance of leg-spinners in Twenty20 cricket and about his plans to play for Essex this summer.

By: Saj Sadiq

02 May 2010

With the alleged spot fixing rumours hopefully behind him, Pakistan leg spinner Danish Kaneria confirmed to PakPassion.net today that he is due to join up once again with English County team Essex.

Speaking from Karachi, Kaneria stated "Yes I'll be back at Essex later next week, probably 6th May. I'm really looking forward to it, especially after our promotion to Division 1 of the County Championship. It will be a good challenge for myself and my Essex colleagues to test ourselves in the top tier of English County cricket".

Kaneria, who was one of the star performers for Sindh during the recently concluded RBS Pentangular One Day Cup, stated that he would have liked to have been part of Pakistan's squad in the ongoing Twenty/20 World Cup and hopes to get a crack at international Twenty/20 cricket in future.

"The RBS Pentangular Cup gave me the opportunity to work on a couple of things with my bowling, mainly slight adjustments here and there that we had analysed. I was pleased with my contribution to the Sindh Dolphins' team and it was satisfying that we won the competition. It was good to see the boys (Pakistan) get off to a winning start in the West Indies against Bangladesh. Of course I would like to have been part of the squad and who knows maybe in future I'll get a chance".

Speaking about the role of leg spinners at the Twenty/20 World Cup, Danish feels that leggies will be pivotal and crucial to any team's chances, especially given the nature of the wickets in the Caribbean.

"The wickets in the Caribbean look as if they won't offer the quick bowlers much assistance. The wicket at St Lucia was a very good track and brilliant for batting. As a leg spinner on those sort of wickets, you need to maintain control and not try too many variations. Concentrate on your stock delivery and keep variety as a surprise element. I fully expect leg spinners to have a major say in this tournament".

Kaneria last played a limited overs match for Pakistan in March 2007 and has been out of favour since the introduction of Saeed Ajmal as the main spinner in fifty over and twenty over cricket.