‘We’re not playing a bowler short’

Pakistan assistant coach Aqib Javed has defended team selection, brushing aside claims that the side is playing one bowler short in order to bolster its temperamental batting.

With the openers not in the best of touches, Pakistan’s batting goes down to number eight with all-rounder Abdul Razzaq coming in then. However, given the batting strength Pakistan choose, it forces them to miss out on a bowler and make Razzaq and part-time spinner Mohammad Hafeez finish off the fifth bowler’s quota.

“No team goes in with five specialist bowlers,” said Aqib. “What people are forgetting is we’re not playing three specialist bowlers but we have four. Shahid Afridi, despite his all-rounder tag, is a specialist bowler and when we sit down and pick four bowlers, his name is the first we put on the list.

“We then pick an all-rounder, a bowler who can bat and Razzaq comes under that  category.”

Criticism has also been levied on the management who have failed to work out a perfect batting order. With a heavy middle-order, it is often the case that Umar Akmal, Afridi and Razzaq come in towards the end of the innings and are unable to stamp their authority on the innings and put on a big score. Consequently, Razzaq’s role in the side has been very minimal – facing only a few deliveries and not bowling his full quota.

“An all-rounder’s role is very difficult. You bat at number eight, you bowl four to five overs. Razzaq is a utility player and he’s a type of batsman who can win you matches that you’ve lost by the time he comes in. It won’t happen daily but you need such people in the team. It also adds depth to the bowling.”

The seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe was Pakistan’s first successful run-chase in World Cups since their win over New Zealand in the 1999 edition. Considering the batsmen-heavy playing-eleven, the team’s policy has been to bat first and pile up a big total. However, with dew playing an important role under lights, Aqib confirmed that the spinners are being trained to counter the wet ball effect.

“The pitches here are very good and you need these in limited-overs cricket. There’s bounce, spin and seam right from the start. However, in the second innings, dew plays an important role and we’ll be looking out for that. We’re giving a wet ball to the spinners in the nets to train them and that’s the least we can do while training.”

Pakistan take on Australia on Saturday in a match that will determine the final standings of Group A.

Kamran won’t be dropped: Waqar Younis

Pakistan team’s coach Waqar Younis has rubbished all the speculations about wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal’s role in the team saying he would play the whole ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.Waqar was talking exclusively to The Sports Encounter here Wednesday night on the sidelines of the team’s dinner offered by the High Commissioner of Pakistan.

Waqar, who was not looking a happy man, said, “Pakistan have no option but to play Kamran Akmal as he gives us an extra dimension of batting in the top order”.

It has been reported by the TSE that Kamran Akmal would open the batting with Mohammad Hafeez in place of Ahmad Shehzad against Australia.

A circle in the Pakistani media was reporting that Kamran Akmal would be axed from the squad for the game against Australia but Waqar said there is no truth in these reports.

Waqar Younis doesn’t look happy with the Akmal brothers as in the press conference after Pakistan’s victory against Zimbabwe, the Pakistani coach had said that Umar Akmal has more than one problems.

During the dinner, Waqar Younis looked unhappy over something and was seen aloof while team manager Intikhab Alam and skipper Shahid Khan Afridi got mixed up with the participants.

It is important to mention here that in a bid to make Kamran Akmal play in the team Umar Akmal faked a finger injury following which team management was left with no option but to play Kamran in the match against Zimbabwe.

Now, Umar Akmal would join the team for Australia clash and bat in the middle order, while his brother Kamran would open the innings for Pakistan. Ahmad Shehzad is the unlucky man to lose his place in the side on this occasion.

We can beat Australia, says Razzaq

 Pakistan's explosive all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was part of the last team to have beaten Australia in the World Cup back in 1999, and come Saturday, the 31-year-old is confident his current teammates are capable of repeating the trick when the two sides meet in their final group A encounter in Colombo.

Abdul Razzaq struck a solid 60 in Pakistan's narrow 10-run win over the Aussies at Headingley nearly 12 years ago and that victory has gained in significance as the world champions have since been on a 34 match unbeaten run in cricket's showpiece.

But talking exclusively to XPRESS, Abdul Razzaq said: "I see no reason why we won't beat Australia. They are not unbeatable. And if we can beat a strong Sri Lankan team in their own home then we can beat anyone, as long as we play the cricket we are capable of playing."

United they win

Though Pakistan are notorious for their unpredictability and internal squabbling, Abdul Razzaq insisted the team are fully united in their quest for World Cup glory. "I think that the unity and togetherness of this team is one of the best I've been involved in," he said. "Every man is there to do a job and knows exactly what needs to be done."

However, one man who has been under pressure for not quite doing his job is wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal who had a particularly poor outing in the huge defeat to New Zealand. But Abdul Razzaq again stressed that the team were fully behind their beleaguered mate.

"Kamran Akmal is an important part of our team, so there was never any question of any of us questioning him," he said. "We all have bad days and we put it down to experience and move on, and that is exactly what Kamran will do."

And like skipper Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq also fancies the idea of an India-Pakistan clash at some point in the knockout stage. "Pakistan versus India is the biggest game in world cricket bar none," he said. "So as a professional cricketer, one thrives on these types of games. So if it materialises, everyone in the team will be ready and will perform to their utmost ability to make sure we win any such clash."

Sports Minister to meet Pakistan cricket team in Colombo

Federal Sports Minister, Engr. Shaukat Ullah, will meet Pakistan cricket team in Calami to boost their confidence ahead of crucial knock out stage of World Cricket Cup. He will be leaving for Colombo Friday on the invitation of Sri Lankan government to watch the much awaited Pakistan-Australia contest on March 19.  He will also meet the team management and the players to boost their morale and buck them up before the start of the crucial knock-out stage that Pakistan has already qualified for,said a spokesman of Pakistan Sports Board here on Thursday. Meanwhile Shaukat Ullah expressed his satisfaction over the performance of the team in the world cup till now and the team will continue with same winning momentum.  “ Pakistan team has good match-winners in their ranks which could turn the tables over the best of the opponents”,he said adding” our players are quite familiar with the pitches and the conditions of the sub continent which suit their style of play.  He also praised the fans support from people of Sri Lanka in their own country and homely environment that they have provided to Pakistanis. “ It’s really a great treat to watch crucial tie in Sri Lanka”. Shaukat Ullah hoped that Pakistan team will exhibit highest standards of team spirit in the rest of matches. He urged the team captain to lead the team with positive energy and charged-up passion in all disciplines of the game. He further said the victory rests on team’s 100 per cent performance in the fielding in such an important match. The entire nation has set the eyes on World Cup and they are hoping that team will return home with the trophy.

 

World Fastest Bowler Shoaib Akhtar Quits With No Regrets

Pakistan’s maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar, whose colourful career has been a heady mix of on-field brilliance and off-field controversy, will quit internationalcricket after the World Cup.

Akhtar made up his mind after Pakistan’s 110-run defeat against New Zealandlast week, in which he went for 70 runs in his nine overs.

“I have decided to retire. Mentally I wanted to go on forever but I have decided to make way for the youngsters,” the 35-year-old said on Thursday.

“I have no regrets. I made lots of friends but some people have misunderstood me. I thank all the players who played with me and against me.

“It was an honour to have played with Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. I never imagined I would play for Pakistan. It was my greatest moment.

“Pakistan’s last match in this World Cup will also be my last. I hope that will be the final on April 2.”

After his mauling against New Zealand, Akhtar was dropped for the matchagainst Zimbabwe on Monday and was thought to be an unlikely starter for Saturday’s last Group A match against Australia.

Akhtar, who made his international debut in 1997, took 178 wickets in 46 Tests, the last of which was against India at Bangalore in 2007.

He is three wickets short of 250 in 163 one-day internationals and has taken 19 wickets in 15 Twenty20 internationals.

Pakistan squad members hugged him in the dressing room on Thursday before captain Shahid Afridi embraced him as the players entered the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo for practice.

“I want to be remembered as an honest and patriotic player who never trod a wrong path,” said Akhtar.

Akhtar, known as the Rawalpindi Express during his tearaway days as one of Test cricket’s most feared if unpredictable talents, once cracked the 100mph barrier at the 2003 World Cup.

Coach Waqar Younis and Afridi praised Akhtar, for whom the 2011 World Cup was always likely to be his swansong.

“I think he served the team and country well and it’s a graceful way to leave the game to make room for youngsters,” said Waqar.

Afridi said Akhtar was a great team-mate. “Akhtar always tried his best for the team and we wish him every success in his life,” said Afridi.

Six of Shoaib Akhtar's best

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4 for 71 v India, Asian Test Championship, Kolkata, 1999
Two balls that silenced 100,000 spectators. Indian fans weren't too familiar with Shoaib Akhtar but he introduced himself in a manner that left a packed Eden Gardens shell-shocked in a minute. He broke through Rahul Dravid's defences with a fiery inswinging yorker that uprooted leg stump but what followed was unfathomable to the crowd then. India's best batsman strolled to the crease to wild cheers and walked back to the pavilion to stunned silence. Facing Shoaib for the first time, Sachin Tendulkar was at the receiving end of another inswinging yorker, which he failed to keep out and which sent the middle stump cartwheeling towards the wicketkeeper. Shoaib had well and truly arrived. He bagged eight wickets in a match-winning performance.

3 for 55 v New Zealand, World Cup semi-final, Manchester, 1999
Shoaib lit up the World Cup semi-final in Manchester in front of a partisan crowd to give his favourite opposition their first taste of what would be a regular diet from him. He hit 90 mph consistently and, though he went for a few, he aimed correctly and just at the right time to prevent New Zealand from posting a challenging score in what turned out to be a one-sided knockout. Shoaib bowled three spells, and dislodged a batsman in each. Nathan Astle was his first victim. Stephen Fleming had just slashed him to third man when Shoaib returned from round the wicket to fire in a 92mph yorker that cleaned up leg stump. And, in his final spell, pace gave way to subtlety as Chris Harris was undone by a superbly disguised slower ball. New Zealand were kept to 241 for 7, and Pakistan chased that down with no difficulty.

6 for 11 v New Zealand, 1st Test, Lahore, 2002
New Zealand were steamrolled with both bat and ball in Lahore and Shoaib joined in the hammering. New Zealand were up against it after Pakistan had piled up 643 in the first innings, and Shoaib's spell shut them completely out of contention. His six victims were all either bowled or lbw as his fiery pace and toe-crushing lengths simply proved too hot to handle. In a spell of fifty deliveries, Shoaib bagged 6 for 11 and skittled out New Zealand for 73, towards a massive defeat.

5 for 21 v Australia, 1st Test, Colombo, 2002
Australia's pre-eminence had rarely been challenged in the late nineties and the early noughties, but one Shoaib spell threatened to cause a major upset against a young Pakistan team. Pakistan were looking to limit the damage after conceding a lead of 188 in the first innings but Shoaib sprung the Colombo Test back to life in a spell that made a nonsense of an unfavourable pitch with searing pace. Called on to bowl for a second spell after Australia had been well-placed at 71 for 1, Shoaib fired in a series of inswinging thunderbolts that crippled a powerful line-up. Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh were sent back in a matter of five deliveries and Adam Gilchrist was knocked off with a missile from round the wicket. Australia lost nine wickets for 53, of which Shoaib nipped out five, to collapse to 127 all out. The Pakistan batsmen, for their part, suffered a collapse of their own to lose by 41 runs.

5 for 25 v Australia, 3rd ODI, Brisbane, 2002
Shoaib starred in another significant win for Pakistan, this time helping them seal an ODI series in Australia. He had the cushion of a competitive score and derailed an Australian line-up that struggled to put up a challenge. Ponting fell to pace, Darren Lehmann was bowled round his legs, Michael Bevan was caught behind while the tail offered little resistance. Shoaib followed up three wickets in three overs with a couple more down the order to finish with 5 for 25 and catch Australia short by 91 runs.

6 for 30 v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Wellington, 2003

Shoaib's love affair with New Zealand's batting continued in Wellington, the hosts caving in to a devastating spell to set up a memorable victory for Pakistan. His pace acquired greater potency with the movement and swing in a windy Wellington and the New Zealand batsmen failed to measure up to that. Shoaib had picked up a five-for in the first innings but his batsmen had let that effort down, conceding a lead of 170. New Zealand looked good to put it beyond the visitors in the second innings before Shoaib struck. He removed a stodgy Mark Richardson and Scott Styris off successive deliveries, and combined with seamer Shabbir Ahmed to clean up the tail. New Zealand lost seven wickets for eight runs in 10.4 overs and Pakistan's batsmen stepped up in the second innings to chase down 274.

Shoaib Akhtar career timeline

COLOMBO: Shoaib Akhtar's career timeline after the Pakistan pace bowler on Thursday announced his retirement from international cricket after the World Cup.

1996: Removed from the team for the Sahara Cup against India in Canada on grounds of indiscipline.

1997: Akhtar makes his Test debut against the West Indies in November at his home ground in Rawalpindi, taking two wickets.

February 1999: Akhtar dismisses Indian greats Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid off successive deliveries in the Calcutta Test, which Pakistan win to lift the Asian Test championship. Earns nickname of " Rawalpindi Express"

December 1999: Akhtar's action called for the first time, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) allows him to carry as only his bouncer causes concerns.

March 2000: Banned for one ODI and fined for reaching team hotel late in Pakistan

2001: Akhtar's action called for second time after taking five wickets in New Zealand.

November 2001: Action called for third time in Sharjah, after which Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) carries out examination at University of Western Australia which concludes his action is result of "unique physical characteristics" which form basis of him being cleared to continue.

November 2002: Reprimanded for ball-tampering and banned for one ODI after throwing water bottle at a spectator in Zimbabwe.

May 2003: Banned for two ODIs and fined 75 percent of match fee for ball-tampering during a tri-series in Sri Lanka

March 2003: Akhtar bowled at 100mph in Pakistan's match against England at Cape Town, becoming the first bowler in the history of the game to break the 100mph barrier.

October 2003: Banned for one Test and two ODIs for abusing Paul Adams in the first Test against South Africa, after taking eight wickets in the match to help Pakistan win. In second Test against New Zealand, helps Pakistan win with seven-wicket burst (11 in the match).

March 2004: Akhtar accused of feigning injury after Pakistan lost Test series to archrivals India 2-1.

October 2006: Akhtar and Mohammad Asif test positive for banned steroid nandrolone. Akhtar banned for two years and Asif for one year, bans which were lifted on appeal.

September 2007: Akhtar hits Asif with a bat, two days before the World Twenty20 in South Africa. A month later the PCB fine and ban him for 13 one-day matches

January 2008: Excluded from list of central contracts. A fuming Akhtar criticises the PCB. A disciplinary committee bans him for five years. Punishment reduced to 18 months on appeal, but fine imposed

May 2009: PCB drop him from World Twenty20 squad.

January 2011: Selected in Pakistan's World Cup squad, despite coach Waqar Younis saying he is not 100 percent fit.

March 2011: Akhtar announces he will retire after the World Cup


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Shoaib Akhtar to retire from international cricket after World Cup

Mercurial Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar will retire from international cricket after the World Cup, ending a tempestuous career that was marred by several controversies including a dope scandal. The 35-year-old reportedly broke the news to his team-mates and manager here this morning.

With an injury-ravaged body finding it tough to withstand the rigours of international cricket, Akhtar was looking at the World Cup as his final shot at glory. While he was impressive in the opening match against Sri Lanka, form began to desert to him as the event progressed. This prompted the team management to drop him for the last match against Zimbabwe.

Akhtar, who has 178 wickets in 46 Tests and 247 in 163 ODIs to his credit, made his international debut in 1997, against the West Indies. The express bowler, however, always found himself embroiled in controversies over his actions and disciplinary issues.

He was subjected to a two-year ban in 2006 for testing positive for Nandrolone, a banned steroid. The pacer missed out competing in the Champions Trophy that year but the verdict was overturned by a three-man tribunal a month later.

He had his differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board as well and was even fined for openly speaking against the PCB.