Flintoff look forward to return to cricket fields against Pakistan
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

LAHORE: England's allrounder Andrew Flintoff Thursday said he was looking forward to return to cricket fields during a new challenge against Pakistan.

"It's nice to be in Pakistan and I am eager to return to cricket fields with the series against Pakistan," Flintoff told reporters at a news conference here Friday.

Flintoff and spearhead Steve Harmison joined the rest of England squad in Pakistan early Thursday morning before they left for Lahore where team would play its second tour match against Pakistan 'A' from Sunday.

Flintof termed the tour of Pakistan " a new challenge " after a tough Ashes series at home. "It will be an exciting series and I look forward to score runs and to take wickets to help my side achieve set targets ", he asserted.

The duo was allowed to take a week off after they featured in the Super Series for Rest of World XI against Australia in Australia last month.

Both were also part of a fund raising campaign for Pakistan's earthquake victims in Dubai and UAE last week.

Flintoff, currently regarded as world's best allrounder, played a pivot role in England's 2-1 Ashes win over Australia two months ago, scoring 402 runs and grabbing 24 wickets.

"We had a very tough series against Australia and playing Pakistan at home is not an easy objective but with collective teams efforts and hard work we can put up good show ", he maintained.

He said they have left behind the sweet memories of their victory in Ashes and they will be fully concentrating on playing good cricket to meet a new challenge.

Harmison, who alongwith Flintoff toured Pakistan with England Under-19 team in 1997, took 17 wickets in England's first win in the Ashes for 18 years and is likely to spearhead the attack in the forthcoming series.

Flintoff rejected a questioner that he would be targeting any specific player in the series saying "I never target any player to claim his wicket, my efforts always are to score runs and take wickets and to be useful part of the team to lead it to success".

Flintoff hailed the spirit in the England camp especially among the youngsters. "The young guys have settled well and the spirit within the team is very high for this tough series," said Flintoff, who was jointly declared ICC (International Cricket Council) Player of the Year with South African Jacques Kallis last month.

England showed remarkable resilience to snatch an unlikely victory by 52 runs after defeat stared in their face against Pakistan Cricket Board Patron's XI at Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

England will play three Tests and five one-day matches on their tour of Pakistan. The first Test starts at Multan from November 12.

England won the tour opener, a three match against PCB Patrons XI by 52 runs at Rawlapindi. They would be playing a three day match here from November 6-8 at Lahore Gymkhana Bahg-e-Jinnah ground to warm up for the first test at Multan.●