Yusuf Pathan eyes berth in India's squad for 2016 T20 World Cup

New Delhi Having honed his allround skills swashbuckling allrounder Yusuf Pathan is eyeing a berth in Indias world T20 squad on account of his batting prowess and a good showing during the Ranji season and IPLYusuf PathanYusuf who last played an international T20 for India in March 2012 has been regularly performing for his IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders and making it count for Baroda in the current Ranji season The 33yearold allrounder is sure that he still has a lot to offer to Indian cricketI have had a very good Ranji season this year If you talk about T20 then I have had a very good IPL season for KKR I am bowling well letting down 910 overs in every match Vijay Hazare so things are moving in the right direction Wickets are coming my way and I am also getting runs when I am battingSo obviously I am eyeing a place in the upcoming tournament and thats the T20 World Cup And I believe that if I keep performing then I will get an opportunity Yusuf told PTI in an interviewOn his cricketing future Yusuf said I have a lot of cricket left in me and a long road ahead of me I am just focussed on doing well Performing to the best of my ability and leave the rest to the almighty I believe if you keep performing selectors certainly take noticeMy aim has always been big and those will remain so till the time I play cricket I will work harder to achieve my goals If you do well for your team consistently the team will always like to take your services and give you an opportunity So my goal is always to play good cricket and work towards itMaking his Team India debut in 2007 four years after his star brother Irfan Pathan wore his international cap in 2003 Yusuf made an impression right away in the inaugural World T20 final Opening the batting in the Mahendra Singh Dhoniled side Yusuf hit Pakistans Mohammad Asif for a six in his eightball stay as India won a thriller by 5 runsThe Men in Blue have come a long way after that historic moment with the Test captaincy changing hands from Mahendra Singh Dhoni to Virat Kohli Kohli has done well in the few matches that he has captained so far He is a good leader and has shown positivity in his approach He is aggressive on the field but that ispositive aggression I believe He also helps the team and the teammates and that is a good sign for Indian cricket he saidThe destructive batsman has also been a useful offspinner for his side something that works well in limitedovers cricket Yusuf insists that he has worked on all aspects of his game since being out of favour from the national side I have been working on my bowling for quite sometime now and the results are certainly showing Not only on my bowling I have worked tirelessly on every aspect of my game whether it is batting or fielding he saidHaving played 57 ODIs and 22 T20s for the national side Yusuf feels at home with the limitedovers format but is not averse to trying his luck in Test matches as well Look I have played ODIs and T20s so obviously I think more about ODIs and T20sI have not played Test matches so cant say much about them But its not that I dont wish to play Tests I have done well in the fourday Ranji matches and will certainly look to play these but yes for the moment I am enjoying my limitedovers cricket he saidCricket apart Yusuf and Irfan are also seen donning many hats but the older brother feels that its family that keeps the two occupied off the field The Cricket Academy of Pathans CAP is being looked after by the coaches that we have so that doesnt really keep us busy Either its cricket that takes our time or its family that we are surrounded with he concluded