Misbah backs Akhtar factor against India

Misbah believes fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar has a key role to play in the World Cup semi-final against India.

MOHALI:

Pakistan vice-captain Misbahul Haq believes fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar has a key role to play in the World Cup semi-final against India – even if it is from the sidelines. The 35-year-old Akhtar announced he will retire after the World Cup and has only featured in three of the seven matches in the tournament.

But he remains capable of working up fearsome speed and may have one last shot at India when Pakistan face their arch-rivals on Wednesday.

“He is a class bowler,” said Misbah. “He has performed for Pakistan on a number of occasions including the 1999 World Cup [where Pakistan lost to Australia in the final].”

And Misbah said that, at the very least, he would help the team’s batsmen get ready for the challenge of facing India’s seamers.

“Batsmen get to prepare well against pace bowling when they face him at the nets. If he does play in the coming matches, I feel it will give us a psychological advantage.”

‘This is a new game’

When it comes to India-Pakistan matches, Misbah is currently associated with the 2007 World Twenty20 final in Johannesburg.

The batsman rescued Pakistan from the depths of 77 for six and his 43 almost guided Pakistan to victory in the first World Twenty20 final. However, with three balls left, and six runs needed to win, he was last man out when he tried to lap Joginder Sharma over short fine leg and was caught by Sreesanth.

Asked if he wanted to put that right, the 36-year-old said, “Every game is a new game and it’s not because of that, that this is a special match.

“This is a World Cup semi-final, I really want to play well.”

Deputy praises Afridi

Misbah, one of two former captains in the side along with Younus Khan, praised Shahid Afridi for the way he had led the side to the semi-finals.

The leg-spinner is the tournament’s leading bowler with 21 wickets and Misbah pointed out his aggressive competitive nature as the key.

“I think the important thing is his aggression and he has led the team by example.

“He is performing really well, just taking wickets at the right time, so that really helps the team when the captain is performing so well. Everybody is standing behind him at the World Cup.”

There were concerns that having two ex-captains in a Pakistan team, traditionally renowned for its volatility, could prove divisive but Misbah insisted that there was nothing like that with Afridi.

“I think there are always differences in opinion but we always talk to the captain about what he thinks. He’s really good at that.

“He listens to the players, especially the seniors and the coaches, we just decide everything after a lot of co-ordination, and that’s why everything is going well and the team is doing well.”

Misbah added it was also good to have veteran manager Intikhab Alam, a former Pakistan captain, on board given his experience in helping the team win the 1992 World Cup in Australia and the 2009 World Twenty20 in England.

“That’s a positive thing we have, the World Twenty and the World Cup we’ve won when he was with the team so he has a good experience of how to perform in pressure situations.”

No century from Pakistan batsmen

After seven matches, no Pakistan batsman has made a hundred with Misbah’s unbeaten 83 in the 11-run win over Sri Lanka, who face New Zealand in the other semi-final, their highest individual score.

“Our batsmen not making big scores is not a concern because we are winning. We will be happy if we win the World Cup without a single individual hundred,” said the vice-captain.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2011.