‘World Cup glory way to fans’ hearts’

Pakistan must clinch the World Cup if they are to win back their fans, says fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

DHAKA: Pakistan must clinch the World Cup if they are to win back their fans, said fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar as his team tries to emerge from the damaging spot-fixing scandal.

Pakistan have endured a troubled build-up to the tournament after former captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were banned on charges of corruption during the Lord’s Test against England last year.

“Obviously we are very hurt inside by whatever has happened to us,” Akhtar, 35, told reporters in Dhaka. “Pakistan need to win this World Cup at any cost. It will bring the charm back for people in Pakistan.”

The bowler said his team had enough bowling resources at their disposal despite the absence of the new-ball pair Amir and Asif.

“We are unfortunate that they are not there,” said Akhtar. “But what can we do now? I think whatever pace attack we have is good enough to win matches.

“We have the bowlers who can bowl at the death. The main thing is that the ball is going to reverse swing as the match progresses. That is where I think Pakistan’s strength lies.”

A veteran of 160 One-Day Internationals (ODI), Akhtar said he was confident of rattling up good pace as he used to when at his prime.

“I still bowl 150 kph (93 mph). Obviously when you are 26 and 36, it’s a bit different. I will try to do as well as I can with whatever ability I have. I am going to push my limits and give it all to the team.”

Looking forward to duel with Tendulkar

The 35-year-old, who missed the last World Cup in the wake of a doping ban and fitness problems, also said he was looking forward to a likely duel with India’s Sachin Tendulkar.

“We all know he is a great player. Every bowler gets hit. Even Brett Lee gets hit a long way. I have got him off the first ball too.

“Not only Sachin, we will try to get other key players early because they can single-handedly win matches.”

India and Pakistan have been placed in different groups for the tournament, beginning in Dhaka on February 19.

Coach wants Murali fresh for Cup

Sri Lankan coach Trevor Bayliss stressed the need for veteran off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to be fresh for Sri Lanka’s World Cup bid.

The record-holding wicket-taker in both Test and one-day cricket was rested for Sri Lanka’s opening warm-up match against the Netherlands on Saturday, which the hosts won by a comfortable 156 runs.

“Murali is getting towards the end of his career and we want to make sure that he is mentally and physically fresh,” said Bayliss of the spinner who has taken 800 Test and 519 one-day wickets.

Senior batsman Mahela Jayawardene was also rested and Bayliss felt happy at the strength of Sri Lanka’s emerging talent as the side looks to a future without the talismanic Murali.

Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar

“We are very unfortunate that the banned trio [Salman, Amir and Asif] is not here. But what can we do now? I think whatever bowling attack we have is good enough to win matches for us.”





India batsman Sachin Tendulkar

“No Indian can ever forget that [the 1983 triumph] and, like any other player, I too have dreamt of winning the World Cup for the country. By God’s grace, we will achieve what we want to achieve.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2011.