COLOMBO – Maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar on Monday said Pakistan were hurt by the corruption scandal, but his rejuvenated team will take their frustrations out on their World Cup rivals. Test captain Salman Butt and seamers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer were banned for corruption barely two weeks before the World Cup which depleted Pakistan’s bowling options.
But Akhtar said the loss of the trio has helped unite the squad.
“We are a hurt side so we are here to hurt others. It’s better that it happened to us because every time a controversy happens it gathers us together and what better situation than before a World Cup,” Akhtar said. Pakistan, rated as dark horses in the most open World Cup in its 36-year history, inflicted a narrow 11-run defeat over co-hosts Sri Lanka in their last match after seeing off Kenya by 205 runs.
Akhtar, 35, admitted he was missing Aamer — banned for five years — and Asif — banned for seven — but said others have stepped up. “Obviously without Aamer and Asif we have suffered badly, they were the best with the new ball, it’s unfortunate what happened to them. Had they been with us it would have been the most lethal bowling attack,” said Akhtar.
“But the way (Umar) Gul and (Abdul) Razzaq have been bowling, the way (Wahab) Riaz is bowling, we can still do a much better job as we have variety in our attack.” Akhtar hoped Pakistan — who next face Canada in Colombo on March 3 — will not get complacent after beating Sri Lanka. “We have to move on and we shouldn’t get complacent with the new ball because if we get two or three early wickets then that could be the turning point,” said Akhtar, whose 14-year career has been dotted with bans, a failed dope test and fitness problems.
Fitness problems forced him to miss the 2007 World Cup while he was fined 3.4 million rupees (27,000 dollars), and banned for 13 ODIs, after he hit Asif with a bat, two days before the 2007 World Twenty20 in South Africa. Akhtar said he was happy to play his part in the Sri Lanka win, taking the all-important wicket of in-form Mahela Jayawardene to finish with 2-42. “I am happy that I got a wicket at a time when it was needed,” said Akhtar. “It was very important for us to stage a comeback and it was good that we did and proved people who termed Sri Lanka as favourites wrong.”
Akhtar too old for life in fast lane: Shoaib Akhtar admitted on Monday that age has dimmed his energy and desire to deliver the 100 mph toe-crunchers that once made him the world’s most feared fast bowler. “I left this race of bowling at 100 mph a long time ago. I am nearing 36 now and am more mature, so I am focusing on getting wickets now than bowling fast,” said Akhtar, who broke the 100 mph barrier at the 2003 WC.
However, he added: “But I crossed 159 kmh (98 mph) the other day.” Akhtar has played 162 ODIs with 246 wickets and 46 Tests, which yielded 178 wickets.
Sleepy Younis misses India-England match: While millions of fans across the world watched a pulsating tie between India and England on Sunday, Pakistan’s senior batsman Younis Khan preferred sleep over high-voltage cricket. “I slept early, so I couldn’t watch the England-India match,” Younis said on Monday, when asked about the Group B match in Bangalore. “I missed it, but scores show that even… 400 runs is gettable in the sub-continent.”
“As a senior player, I am happy to put my contribution in the team’s totals,” said Younis, who scored 50 against Kenya and 72 against Sri Lanka. “It is a good feeling and the win against Sri Lanka has put us closer to the quarter-finals.” Younis, who normally bats at number three, said he had no problems batting one place lower.
“My job is that whenever there is need, I can play at three and now if the team needs me at four then I am ready to bat there as well and had good partnerships with Misbah-ul-Haq,” said Younis. Younis and Misbah added 108 for the fourth wicket to help Pakistan post a challenging 277-7 against Sri Lanka, before restricting their opponents to 266-9.
Younis said Pakistan could go all the way to the World Cup final. “Every match is important for us whether it’s against Canada, Australia or New Zealand so our effort is to win every match and reach the final and win it, but the first goal is the quarter-final,” said Younis. Pakistan’s next match is against Canada on Thursday.
