Tanvir ready to fight for place in Pakistan team

Karachi, Nov 30 : A fit-again Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir is hoping to overcome stiff competition and find a place in the side for the series against Australia that will start with the first Test in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

Tanvir said he has regained his fitness and is now eyeing a place in the Pakistan squad in spite of the fact that the team already has the in-form pace trio of Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul.

Tanvir, who was a star of the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) last year, said that he is pleased with his recovery from the back injury that affected his form over the past six months.

The Rawalpindi-based player was a regular with the Pakistan limited-overs sides in 2008 but has struggled to hold down his place in 2009.

'A damaged disc in my lower back caused me great discomfort,' he was quoted as saying in pakpassion.com.

'It was a frustrating time for me and the injury could not be diagnosed during the tournament. My body wasn't right in England and the injury had affected my self-belief. It affected me mentally too.'

Tanvir said that for the past few months he has been training at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. 'The strength building sessions at the NCA have helped me and I'll be back there next week to continue my work with the medical staff there.'

Tanvir made his comeback for the two Twenty20 Internationals in Dubai earlier this month and was able to deliver steady spells. 'I felt no recurrence of the back injury. The ball was coming out of the hand nicely, I felt I had good rhythm against New Zealand and bowled pretty well.'