COLOMBO: With controversies and scandals playing a huge role in tainting Pakistan’s run-up to the World Cup, fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar reckons the player can rise above all that and perform beyond all expectations in cricket’s showpiece event.
Pakistan lost three of their main players - Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt - to spot-fixing charges that were levelled during the England tour in August last year. Wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider’s desertion of the team during the UAE series against South Africa made Pakistan cricket a laughing stock while opener Yasir Hameed’s interview with the News of the World, in which he discussed the spot-fixing allegations on his teammates, added insult to injury.
However, a Test and One-Day International series win against New Zealand and two wins out of two in the World Cup so far have renewed fans’ expectations from the 1992 champions.
“We are hurt and we are here to hurt,” Akhtar repeatedly told reporters while responding to queries on controversies faced by the team in the past few months. “We’ve had a miserable past few months but I’m happy all that has ended before the World Cup.
“We will heal our wounds by giving the best and we’ve already started off well with two wins. We are missing Asif and Amir but we don’t have any other options than to look forward.”
‘Long way to go’
The fast-bowler, who picked up two crucial wickets against Sri Lanka as he bowled with venom and speed he was once renowned for, said that Pakistan still had a long way to go.
“We were considered as underdogs at the start but now we are on par with the favourites and we’ll have to live up to that tag by performing consistently.”
The experienced campaigner, playing his third World Cup, said that the team was united and the senior players were backing up the young guns, most of them who are playing the mega event for the first time.
Gul eyes Australia, NZ wins
Meanwhile, another fast-bowler Umar Gul said that Pakistan are now aiming to get the better of Australia and New Zealand, the other Test-playing nations in Group A.
“The way our performance has been, I’m hopeful against Australia and New Zealand as well,” said Gul.
“The team’s middle-order is performing and hopefully our openers will also hit form now.”
However, the fast-bowler, who is yet to make an impact in the tournament, was unhappy with his own performance.
“I’m trying to improve. Shoaib is very helpful and I love bowling with him.”
He said he was feeling the responsibility as a senior bowler and hoped his performance will improve.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2011.
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