Parthiv Patel focusing on batting
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, May 21
To make a place in the Indian team for one-day internationals, Parthiv Patel has been concentrating on his batting. The Test wicketkeeper, brand ambassador of Avon Cycles, was in the city today.

Talking to mediapersons after signing the contract, he said it was a plus point if a wicketkeeper was among the runs. About the tour to Pakistan Parthiv said he had gained a lot of experience during the series as he had faced world class pace bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami. He singled out the pitch at Multan while appreciating the arrangements made by the host country. Parthiv was highly appreciative of his senior players, who had encouraged him during the tour.

Asked about keeping wickets against pacers Irfan Pathan and Lakshmipatty Balaji, Parthiv said it was more difficult to keep wickets when Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh bowled. It is a tedious task to stand behind the wickets since there was more variety in the bowling when these two spinners bowled, he said. His ideal wicketkeeper was Adam Gilchrist of Australia, Parthiv added.

About match-fixing allegations levelled against the Pakistani team during the recently held Test and one-day series, Parthiv termed these as absurd, saying these were nothing but rumours. He said his main aim was to prepare for the forthcoming Asia Cricket Cup, scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in September.