Indians inspire Vala

OPENER Assad Vala says he has grown up idolising a number of star Indian cricketers, including the iconic Sachin Tendulkar whose on-field temperament is something that he aspires to have.
The Kumul Petroleum Papua New Guinea Barramundis skipper had a huge role in the national men’s cricket team reaching the Twenty-20 (T20) World Cup, which started last night.
The 34-year-old was the leading run-scorer for his team in the qualifiers with 197 runs in eight matches.
“When I was growing up, as we all know, Tendulkar was the only cricketer everyone in the world knew,” Vala said in an online interaction facilitated by the International Cricket Council.
“Tendulkar (and) probably Brian Lara. I just wanted to watch them bat and I see myself as a batsman.”
So what qualities of right-handed Mumbai native Tendulkar would Vala like to take in?
“I think, his temperament,” he said.
Vala cited Tendulkar’s patient double hundred in a Sydney Test in the 2003-04 series, when the batting great remained unbeaten on 241 after failing in the first three Tests.
“There was a series in Australia, where he got nicked four or five times before he scored the double century,” he said.
“He was mentally tough and the way he planned his double century where he played straight and on-side is something I have never seen before, just to score all his runs on the leg-side and straight-down.
“His cover-drive, a shot he loved, that is something I got inspired by (and) I have been looking at it closer, and it was a really inspiring innings, something I could learn from.”
The left-handed batsman and an off-break bowler, who has played 35 one-day internationals and 28 T20s, also admires the likes of swashbuckling all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and former India captain Sourav Ganguly.
“I had Singh (also as someone whom I looked up to), because I am left-hander, I loved watching him, a stylish left-hander, and Ganguly,” Vala said.
“And apart from the Indian team, Lara and (Kumara) Sangakkara and Matthew Hayden, I just wanted to watch them bat.”
In fact, hitting six sixes in an over, just like Singh did against England’s Stuart Broad in the inaugural T20 World Cup in South, is an aspiration for Vala but his priority is contributing to the team’s cause.
“If I do bat, there are good bowlers bowling around, so if the times are right, I’ll do it,” he said.
“But hopefully, I can score some runs, and am not worried about six sixes, doesn’t matter how I get the runs.
“But if I can score some runs and contribute to a win, then it is more important (than) scoring six sixes.”
The Barramundis face Scotland in their second group match tomorrow (8pm start, PNG time) . – indianexpress