Confident Tortoise back on track 8230;

Dumped Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq today said he was engaged in a desperate campaign to resurrect his cricket career and shed his memori...

Dumped Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq today said he was engaged in a desperate campaign to resurrect his cricket career and shed his memories of the World Cup fiasco ahead of a busy home season.

8220;World Cup 2003 was the worst phase in my career but that is now behind me and I am doing all-out efforts to get my place in the team back and further my career,8221; Inzamam said.

8230; while the pacy hare is still uncertain
LONDON: Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar inspired Durham to victory over Somerset with an eight-wicket haul in the English County Championship yesterday and then revealed that he is still uncertain over whether or not he will return home for the Test series against bangladesh. Shoaib took 4/9 off seven overs as somerset were bowled out for 56 in their second innings to lose the division two game at the Riverside by 318 runs. He had already snared 4/39 in the first innings. 8220;I had permission to play half a season for Durham, but Mohammed Sami8217;s injury has changed that,8221; said Shoaib. 8220;It8217;s an honour for me to play for Pakistan, but we have just had the news and we are talking about it. Playing county cricket is a great learning process for me. I8217;m bowling every day and getting stronger, and I8217;m enjoying every bit of it.8221;

The 33-year-old burly batsmen, who had shed some nine kilograms before the World Cup, was a major flop in this year8217;s event in southern Africa, managing just 19 runs in six games as Pakistan collapsed in the first round of the tournament.

He was among eight senior players dumped by cricket authorities in a clean-up operation following the debacle in March.

Inzamam now hopes to get a place in a revamped squad which still lacks stable batting.

The unavailability of reliable batsman Younis Khan, who has opted out of the first two upcoming Tests against Bangladesh, makes Inzamam8217;s claims for a place stronger.

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8220;Since the World Cup was a major tournament everyone was disappointed with the team8217;s performance and especially with my batting but I assure my return will make them forget everything,8221; said Inzamam, who hit a career-best of 329 against New Zealand in May last year.

Pakistan hosts minnows Bangladesh for three Tests and five one-day internationals later this month followed by three Tests and as many one-day games against South Africa.

8220;I am encouraged by support from Imran Khan and Wasim Akram who advised me to forget what happened and now I hope to get my place in the team back,8221; Inzamam said.

Imran Khan, a former Pakistan captain, discovered Inzamam and as a dashing batsman during Pakistan8217;s 1992 World Cup triumph in Australia, he hit a 37-ball 60 not out in the semi-final and 42 in the final to make his mark.

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A veteran of 85 Tests and 290 one-day internationals, Inzamam said his target was to complete 10,000 runs in both forms of the game.

8220;I want to reach 10,000 runs and in this second phase of my career I will try to transfer my experience and guile to youngsters.8221;