Hirwani too gets a call, Bahutule looks forward to Mumbai game

Hirwani too gets a call, Bahutule looks forward to Mumbai game
DHARMENDRA JORE

MUMBAI, February 13: Veteran Madhya Pradesh leg-spinner, Narendra Hirwani, who had taken the world by storm bagging 16 wickets on his Test debut against the West Indies more than a decade ago, has been summoned to attend the National cricket team's conditioning camp for the forthcoming series against Australia.

In the absence of unfit Anil Kumble the National selectors have opted for another option as well. Mumbai's leggie Sairaj Bahutule, who has played limited overs game, but is yet to make Test debut, has also been asked to be at the Chennai camp.

In Hirwani's case, the call from BCCI was first received by the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) in Indore, which then passed it on to Hirwani, who was scheduled to represent Air-India in the Mahindra Shield final in Mumbai on Tuesday.

``I'm very happy to receive the news,'' an elated Hirwani told òf40óThe Indian Express on the telephone this afternoon. ``I have faith in my hard work and sincerity. I haven't changed my cricketing attitude, but mind you, I've improved a lot as far as my bowling is concerned,'' he said.

The last time Hirwani bowled his leg-spinners for India was against the South Africans in 1996-97.

His performance Madhya Pradesh in domestic circuit and also for Central Zone in Duleep and Deodhar Trophy championships has been praiseworthy.

In January this year, he faced a fitness problem that surfaced in a Duleep Trophy match against West Zone in Nagpur, but regained his strength dramatically over a short period of time.

He bagged six wickets against Rajasthan in a Ranji tie and claimed three scalps against South in a Duleep Trophi match.

``I'm sure, National coach John Wright will observe my bowling carefully and do the needful. Wright is a right man to understand my abilities since I have bowled to him and got his wicket as well,'' Hirwani added.

Sairaj Bahutule, who was ignored by the selectors initially, said he wanted to focus on the game first. ``I'm working hard since the Australia-Mumbai game is nearing. Apart from my bowling, my batting and fielding are my plus points. So let's hope, I live upto everybody's expectations.''

Bahutule had claimed a hat-trick in West Zone's victory over East in a Duleep Trophy tie at Pune last month. ``I'm looking forward to the Chennai camp and try to learn few things,'' the Mumbai leggie said.

Bahutule, who was reluctant to comment further, said he was disappointed for not having omitted from the original list of probables. ``I have always focused on my cricket and tried to improve,'' the modest cricketer added.