Mohammad Sami hopes to continue good form in Australia

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami justified his recall to the national side with a six-wicket burst in the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. The 28-year-old, who will complement Pakistan's pace attack for the Test series against Australia, finished with 6 for 38 in the second innings, and a match haul of eight wickets, to help the Karachi Blues win the title, thrashing Habib Bank Limited by 141 runs.

Sami, who last featured for Pakistan during the third Test against India in Bangalore two years ago, before stints in the ICL, said he was upbeat about his comeback. "I am confident my recent form will help me in Australia and from there I am able to revive my career," Sami said. "We have a very good side and if we play to our potential then we can give a tough fight to Australia and also have the capability to beat them on their grounds."

Having joined the unofficial ICL in early 2008, he was banned from all forms of the game by the PCB, only to be pardoned by the board earlier this year after presenting no-objection certificates from the league.

Sami will be looking to slot himself in alongside a formidable pace battery comprising Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer and Abdur Rauf as Pakistan look to clinch their first test series in Australia. "Fast bowlers can excel in Australia provided they stick to the basics and I have played there before in 2004 so I know how to bowl there," Sami said.