Hurt Pakistan to make rivals suffer, says Akhtar

Akhtar says his rejuvenated team will take their frustrations out on their World Cup rivals.

COLOMBO: Maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar on Monday said Pakistan were hurting from the cricket 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 Amir 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 Amir, banned for five years, and Asif, banned for seven, but said others have stepped up.

"Obviously without Amir 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.

He and Asif failed drugs tests in 2006 and were banned for two years and one year respectively, both of which which were lifted on appeal.

Fitness problems forced him to miss the 2007 World Cup while he was fined Rs3.4 million, 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 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 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.