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Monday, March 14, 2011

Shoaib not a fast brat anymore


Former tearaway 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.
The charismatic but controversial Pakistan seamer, whose career has been plagued by injury and disciplinary problems, knows that, at 35, it is sense rather than speed that will get wickets.
"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 (more) on getting wickets now than bowling fast," said Akhtar, who broke the 100 mph barrier at the 2003 World Cup.
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.

Afridi happy with all-round show against Zim


Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Monday patted his team-mates for their all-round show in the seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe to qualify for the quarterfinals of the 10th ICC cricket World Cup.
"I think we started very well, (Umar) Gul and (Abdul) Razzaq started very well, and then the spinners. I think the way (opening batsman) Mohammad Hafeez played, good to see him back. (Asad) Shafiq played an amazing knock," Afridi said after his side beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets.
Afridi, known for his big hitting, said he tried to finish the game quickly but could not as he was out for just three runs.
"I tried to finish the game early but I'm sure I will perform with the bat as well," said Afridi who is the leading wicket taker so far in the tournament with 16 scalps.
Asked if Gul-Razaaq bowling in tandem would be persisted in Pakistan's last league fixture against Australia on March 19 in Colombo, Afridi said, "We will see the conditions and we may change also. We can have a seamer and spinner combination also."
Asked about the big match coming up against Australia, the Pakistan captain said, "It would be another day and a new game. We know how important that match is and we hope to give our best."
Man-of-the-Match Gul, who took three for 36, said he was happy to have got back his rhythm.
"I'm back in my form and rhythm. I tried to bowl wicket to wicket. I looked at the pitch before the match, I was happy to bowl first. We are looking forward to the game against Australia. We have done our homework, we will do our best," he said.
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura said his side lost momentum after the rain break and they fell short of runs.
"Again we lost too many wickets first up, from there it was tough to come back into the game. Rain also made it hard for us to get some momentum. We fell short of runs," he said.
"After this, we are going to work on our batting, especially in the first 10 overs. I thought Craig Ervine played pretty well. I'm happy with the bowling also, the spinners with the old ball bowled good lines."

Pakistan reach Cricket World Cup quarter-finals


Pakistan brushed aside Zimbabwe on Monday to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals as Bangladesh stayed on course for the knockout phase, cruising to a win against the Netherlands.
All four qualifiers in Group A are now decided, with co-hosts Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand joining Pakistan in the last eight.
In the tougher Group B, no team has yet reached the next stage but Bangladesh moved into the top four on Monday, pushing England into fifth spot. India, South Africa and West Indies currently occupy the other places.
In a rain-affected match in Pallekele in Sri Lanka, Pakistan restricted Zimbabwe to 151-7 in 39.4 overs before a second rain interruption curtailed the innings.
Man-of-the-match Umar Gul, with 3-36, was the pick of the bowlers as Zimbabwe's Craig Ervine fought a lone battle, hitting a patient 52 off 82 balls.
Pakistan, set a revised 162-run target in 38 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis formula, finished on 164-3 after 34.1 overs on the back of an unbeaten 78 by Asad Shafiq and 49 from Mohammad Hafeez.
Left-arm spinner Raymond Price (2-21) slowed Pakistan but they never looked remotely like falling short of the modest target.
Skipper Shahid Afridi said Pakistan were targeting top spot in Group A to avoid a more tricky assignment in the last eight.
A win over defending champions Australia in Colombo on Saturday will go a long way in helping that ambition.
"We will definitely play well against Australia. It's a match which we'll take very seriously," said Afridi, whose side are a point better off than the champions but who have played a game more.
In the earlier match in Chittagong the Netherlands slumped to 160 all out in 46.2 overs despite 53 not out from the dangerous Ryan ten Doeschate.
Abdur Razzak picked up 3-29 in 10 overs, while fellow spinners skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Suhrawadi Shuvo claimed one wicket apiece.
In a reckless display of running between the wickets, the Netherlands lost four batsmen to run outs.
Untroubled Bangladesh surpassed the target in the 42nd over with left-handed Imrul Kayes making 73 not out.
"It was a nervous win because we had to win to stay in the contest. I thought the boys showed their character and bowled in really good areas and kept the pressure on," said Shakib.
Shakib admitted the team would keep one eye on the West Indies-England game even as the players prepared for the match against South Africa.
"Of course we will watch that match, but as far as we are concerned, it will change nothing. Our future should remain in our hands. The bottom line is that we have to beat South Africa."
If the West Indies beat England on Thursday in Chennai, Bangladesh will qualify regardless of the outcome of the South Africa match. If England win, Bangladesh would need to beat the Proteas.
Dutch skipper Peter Borren admitted his team, who have had a miserable World Cup with five defeats in five games, had let themselves down.
Meanwhile, in-form South African batsman AB de Villiers has undergone a scan on a left thigh injury ahead of Tuesday's match against Ireland at Eden Gardens in Kolkata where a will put the Proteas into the last eight.
South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl said Monday the injury was not "major".
"We are waiting for the doctor's report," he said.
The World Cup quarter-finals begin on March 23. Final group positions will determine who plays whom in the second round.

Afridi targets Australia in race to top


Pakistan eased into the World Cup quarter-finals on Monday but captain Shahid Afridi was more concerned with victory over Australia on Saturday when they will target top spot in Group A.
Pakistan, the 1992 champions, saw off Zimbabwe by seven wickets in a rain-shortened game to grab the fourth and final qualifying spot from the pool with eight points from five games.
But they are keen to finish top and avoid a more tricky assignment in the last eight.
A win over defending champions Australia in Colombo on Saturday will go a long way in helping that ambition.
"We will definitely play well against Australia. It's a match which we'll take very seriously," said Afridi, whose side are a point better off than the champions but who have played a game more.
Man of the match Umar Gul, who took 3 for 36 on Monday, said his team had already started planning to face Australia.
"We are looking forward to the game against Australia. We have done our homework, we will do our best," said the seamer.
Afridi also paid tribute to Asad Shafiq, who made an unbeaten 78 in his debut World Cup appearance.
"Shafiq played an amazing knock," said the skipper.
Shafiq top-scored for Pakistan after replacing the injured Umar Akmal in the line-up while opener Mohammad Hafeez hit 49.
"It's always great to play your first match in the World Cup and finish like this," said 25-year-old Shafiq.
"I knew my strengths and played to them. I have learnt a lot from (former Pakistan skipper) Mohammad Yousef and I am trying to learn more from him."
Pakistan restricted Zimbabwe to 7-151 in 39.4 overs before a second rain interruption curtailed their innings.
Left-hander Craig Ervine fought a lone battle, hitting a patient 52 off 82 balls with five boundaries for his third ODI fifty.
Pakistan were set a revised target of 162 off 38 overs which they reached in the 35th over.
Defeated skipper Elton Chigumbura said the team's batting let them down when they were 4-43.
"We lost too many wickets first up. From there it was tough to come back into the game, and the rain also made it hard for us to get some momentum," said the captain.
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