Mir Hamza pushes for extended Test calendar, shifts focus to white-ball cricket

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Pakistan's Test fast bowler, Mir Hamza, has reflected on the gap between Test series, particularly after their recent encounter against Australia, highlighted the challenges of regaining momentum in four-day or five-day cricket after a prolonged break.

In a recent exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Hamza emphasized the need for an increased focus on Test cricket throughout the year. 

"In my opinion, we should have more Test cricket. The Test series we played against Australia in December-January. The next Test series we have is probably in August, so there is a long gap. 

Four-day or five-day cricket is such that when you play after a long time, it's difficult to regain momentum quickly. I believe we should play Test cricket throughout the year. It will benefit our team more if both batsmen and bowlers maintain their momentum consistently," Mir Hamza said.

Hamza, who actively participates in domestic cricket, underscored his commitment to excel in both red-ball and white-ball cricket, aspiring to secure a permanent place in the Pakistan team.

"As far as white-ball cricket is concerned, I am ready for both white-ball formats and actively strive to prepare for them. I accept every challenge, and if I am given a responsibility in red-ball cricket by the Pakistan team, my endeavor is to perform well. Regarding white-ball cricket, I am also playing domestically and participating in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where I have performed well. My aim is to excel in both red-ball and white-ball cricket and secure a place in the Pakistan team," he said.

"I wanted to show that I'm not just a Test match bowler or limited to white-ball cricket in the PSL. Despite a lackluster performance in the PSL during that period, my cricket journey has restarted in the last couple of years, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it," he added.

Reflecting on his own career setbacks and comebacks, Hamza shared his experience of being dropped from the team in 2018. 

"Whenever a fast bowler experiences a gap in their international career, their comeback often shows a significant improvement in their bowling. In 2018, when I was dropped from the team, I faced similar setbacks in PSL and Pakistan-A. Despite struggling in recent years, I took it as an opportunity to prove myself," Hamza said.

While discussing his broader skills, the 31-year-old expressed a keen interest in batting, highlighting notable partnerships in recent matches.

"I have keen interest in batting. In a recent match, with 6 wickets down at 200 runs, I partnered with Saud Shakeel for an 80-85 runs. I aim to excel in both bowling and batting. In a previous Sydney match against Australia, I played a key role in a record partnership with Aamer Jamal, holding my wicket for a substantial team contribution," he concluded.