Rameez Raja Jr hopeful to play in T20 World Cup

Islamabad, Mar 23 (ANI): Pakistani cricketer Rameez Raja Jr has hinted he is hopeful to play in the T20 World Cup.

In July of 2011, 24 year old Rameez Raja Jr. was selected for the national twenty20 team to represent Pakistan against Zimbabwe on the basis of his excellent domestic performances earlier in the season, notably in the Faysal Bank twenty20 tournament.

In addition to his domestic form, he also had a chance to make an impression in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) where he represented the Barisal Burners who ended the inaugural edition as runners up to the Dhaka Gladiators. Playing alongside the likes of Chris Gayle, Yasir Arafat and Ahmed Shehzad, he made 65 runs in 4 matches (highest score of 26*) for an average of 32.50, Pakpassion reports.

Rameez is currently preparing for the Faysal Bank Super 8s twenty cup and hopes that a good display in this tournament will help in obtaining a recall to the national side. The tournament commences on the 25th of March and is being held in Rawalpindi and sees the top 8 ranked twenty over teams take part in what promises to be a highly competitive tournament.

"I am very hopeful that I will perform well in this tournament, make big scores and play at least one memorable innings - similar to what I did in last year's tournament. So, I am positive, really hopeful that If I perform well, it will be good and perhaps lead to me getting back into the [National] team. "

The appointment of Iqbal Qasim as Chief Selector and other changes in management may eventually turn out to be beneficial for Rameez in terms of selection for the National squad but, for the moment, he remains level headed in his expectations.

"I just hope that I get another opportunity to play for Pakistan. I am really hopeful that if any youngster performs well in the upcoming Super 8s tournament, the selectors will give him a chance in the T20 World Cup or any other upcoming series. The Super 8s tournament is a very important given that the World Cup is later this year in Sri Lanka". (ANI)