Dhaka, May 11: Utility player Sanjay Bangar admits making a comeback to the star-studded Indian cricket team would be difficult as his "rivals have not been doing bad". But despite the odds, the railway all-rounder, who has been ignored after India's away series defeat against New Zealand in 2002-03, has been working hard to reclaim his place as a Test opener.
"I am competing with Akash (Chopra) and Yuvraj (Singh) for that position. I think it is going to be difficult since my rivals have not been doing bad," said the right-hander after a less than impressive Dhaka cricket debut at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
Bangar does not consider his performances as an opener in 12 Tests he has featured for India too bad.
"I have done a good job because I was part of a winning team on seven occasions out of the 12 matches I have opened," Bangar was quoted as saying in local newspaper 'Daily Star'.
Bangar, who has scored 470 Test runs at an average of 29.37, admitted that getting a chance to play test cricket for India is one of the hardest jobs in the world.
"The pressure is too much in the Indian team. It is difficult to keep your place if you fail in two or three games. I did not perform in a couple of games and I was out."
Bangar, who also has seven wickets, was selected for the 2003 World Cup squad in South Africa but did to get to play a single match.
Playing for Grameenphone in the corporate cricket league here yesterday, Bangar scored only four with the bat and was whacked for 26 in four overs with the ball against Partex.
Bureau Report