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Former captain Saeed Anwar admitted Thursday that he could be next on the chopping block. "Definitely, I could be the next and it is in the back of my mind," the left-handed opener told reporters at the National Stadium.

The Pakistan selectors sent a loud and clear message to the rest of the players that no one should consider himself "indispensable" and shouldn't expect any sympathy from them as found out by Wasim Akram and Moin Khan. "I have made five comebacks through my performances. It's my belief that if I continue to perform, I will not be dropped. The only way to avoid the axe is performance" Saeed said.

The computer engineer is believed to be the next whom the selectors will be looking to replace, particularly after he had a lean time in Tests. His last 10 innings have only produced 183 runs with just one half century against England at Faisalabad. However, Saeed's performance in the one-dayers has been brilliant though he has yet to score a century in 16 matches. He aggregates 661 runs at 41.3.

"There are always ups and downs. But for me, form has never been a problem. It's the fitness which has restricted me from playing big innings. I haven't had a chance to reclaim fitness because of a packed international calendar," Saeed, whose fitness graph has plunged because of knee injuries, said.

Saeed's both the knees were required treatment last year and he took a three-month lay-off from cricket. But he believed knee injuries sometimes took eight to 12 months to heel completely. "I have now started taking injections and feel more comfortable. I am looking forward to regaining my form and fitness this season," he said.

Saeed admitted that a player should be dropped if he doesn't perform but urged the selectors to give the out-of-form player of proven ability proper opportunity and confidence to regain form. "I mean Mark Waugh remained out of form for almost two years but since he is a key player, the selectors persisted with him and now he is scoring heavily.

"You see the conditions in the subcontinent are real tough. Even the fittest players sustain injuries which hamper their performance and if they don't get them treated in time, could even threaten their careers," he said.

Saeed also defended himself by saying that inconsistency at the highest level in the last 18 months have also affected his and team's performance.

"There have been so many changes in the administration and team which have directly affected the players. New people bring in new theories and everyone looks upon me and asks me to perform according to his likings and plannings. "Then there is always a new (opening) partner with me which automatically puts me under pressure," Saeed, who has had more than a dozen partners since Aamir Sohail fell out with the administrators, said.

Saeed said since he was in the twilight of his career, it was upto openers Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umer and Imran Nazir to learn from him. " They are more than welcome to discuss and learn things from me."

The cool and composed opener said he wanted to play until the 2003 World Cup but added that he was analyzing his career on series-by- series basis. Commenting on the Test against India, pending Indian government's approval, Saeed said he wanted to continue his dazzling performance against them.

"My one-day world record (194) and Test best (188 not out) is against them besides other big innings. I will be looking forward to similar performance which could be useful to the team. I know a lot is expected off me but opening the innings is a really tough job."

© Dawn