'Hope to complete 12,000 runs before retirement'

Veteran West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (in pic) is hopeful of battling the odds as far as his comeback is concerned and is aiming for one last shot to complete 12,000 runs in Test cricket before retirement.“My ambition is to become the first West Indies batsman to score 12,000 runs in Test cricket. That will be a huge achievement and something that I will cherish forever. I want to retire as the highest run-scorer in West Indies cricket. I hope I am given a chance to realise my dreams,” Chanderpaul, who is just three weeks short of his 41st birthday, said.

Chanderpaul has 11,867 runs from 164 Tests with 30 centuries at an average of 51 plus. However very poor returns against England (92 runs from 6 innings) prompted the team management and selectors look for a change when Australia came calling.“I still feel I am playing well and have the hunger to perform at the highest level,” said Chanderpaul.

Recently, former Brazilian World Cup star Rivaldo and his son Rivaldinho played and scored in the same match for second division Brazilian club Mogi Mirim and Chanderpaul knows a thing or two about how it feels to play alongside his son.Chanderpaul recently played with his 19-year-old son Tagenarine in an official first-class match between Guyana and Windward Islands.

“It was a great experience to play alongside my son Tagenarine. Playing a first-class match with one’s son is obviously a proud moment for any father. Although, we did not get a chance to bat together in the middle. He scored 40 (in the second innings) out of total of 171. He looked compact and played the first-class level bowlers well. The more he plays, the more he will improve,” said the dogged left-hander.