Sport | Cricket
'My mother wants me to play in the World Cup'
Munaf Patel looks very aggressive on the field, but off it, he is a simple man. The star of India's victory over England in Jaipur last Sunday is yet to get used to the posh lifestyle that cricketers in India lead.
- By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:34 May 3, 2009
- Image Credit: AP
- India's Munaf Patel with the Man-of-the-Match trophy after India beat England in Jaipur on Sunday.
Jaipur, India: Munaf Patel looks very aggressive on the field, but off it, he is a simple man. The star of India's victory over England in Jaipur last Sunday is yet to get used to the posh lifestyle that cricketers in India lead.
And when he speaks, one knows that it is coming from his heart.
Patel hardly takes any credit for his performance and is candid when it comes to pointing out his drawbacks.
Hailing from a remote village in western India, Patel barely manages to speak in English, but is able to convey his views. He has really trained himself very well to speak on television - just in case he wins the Man-of-the-Match award!
When asked about his spell against England, he attributed his success in the match to coach Greg Chappell. "All I did was to bowl as my coach told me," he confessed.
And what was his coach's advice for him? Like a studious pupil, he replied: "He told me to concentrate on my line and length."
Mission wickets
How happy are you to open the bowling for India? The answer was quick. "Opening the attack is not in my hands. I do whatever my coach and captain think is best for the team to do," he said. "I have only one aim and that is to serve the best interest of my team," he added.
To a query on whether he had any plans to improve his speed, he said: "My aim is not to bowl as fast as I can or improve my pace. My coach has clearly told me that pace without a good line and length is useless. So all that I am aiming for now is bowling a good line and length."
Does that mean wickets aren't important for him?
Displaying his innocent smile, Patel said: "My coach has told me that if I can bowl a good line and length, I will surely get wickets. And I've realised that what he said is true."
So what is his ambition?
"My mother always wants to see me play in the World cup. I hope I am able to fulfil her wish."
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