The Hindu : Akhtar raring to have a go at Indians

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 03, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Akhtar raring to have a go at Indians

LAHORE, MARCH 2. Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar believes he has become a much better bowler after the 2003 World Cup and is now looking forward to renew his contest with the Indian batting line-up in the series starting next week.

``The way I look at the series, it is going to be a contest between their strong and experienced batting line-up and our bowling attack. If our batsmen put runs on the board it will be a terrific contest because myself, Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed have started to work well as a pace unit,'' he told a daily here.

He, however, refused to bill the series as a `Shoaib vs Tendulkar' contest and said the Master Blaster has proved himself as one of the best batsman in the world.

``No one can dispute that. But in the coming series while the media may like to bill it a Shoaib vs Tendulkar battle, I think it is about how our bowling fares against their entire batting line-up. It is not just about one batsman. They have all played well in Australia.''

Asked about his experience in last year's World Cup game against India at Centurion, where he went for 72 runs in his 10 overs with Tendulkar smashing 98 off 75 balls, Akhtar said it helped him become more focused.

``I have improved a lot since then. I have worked harder on my fitness. I am more consistent. That match is over and you now have to look forward to this series.''

Kapil denies any

official role

In New Delhi meanwhile, Kapil Dev asserted that he is not the official bowling coach or consultant to the Indian team.

``I am game if I am asked to help the boys and have never shied away from doing whatever I can for Indian cricket,'' Kapil told PTI on Tuesday.

``But to ascribe any official involvement in the camp is simply not true.''

Reports from Kolkata on Monday said Kapil Dev had been appointed the bowling coach of the Indian team. It was reported he would help Indian bowlers in a three-day camp in Kolkata from March7 to 9 before the team's departure to Pakistan from New Delhi on March 10.

``If you listen carefully to what Mr. (Jagmohan) Dalmiya had to say on television, he used the word `input' to describe my association with the camp in Kolkata. At no stage he mentioned I am the bowling coach or consultant of the team,'' said the former captain.

Abbas gives India the edge

Elsewhere, former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas, was of the view that India has a definite edge over Pakistan.

``India's bowling is adequate without being extraordinary, but their batting strength is much stronger than Pakistan's on paper,'' Abbas told the Dawn in Karachi.

Predicting a tough one-day series, he said: ``Pressure, for sure, will be on the home side because of the high expectations. Although Pakistan's bowling is stronger, it will entirely depend on the fitness and form of the fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.

``On the contrary, the Indian bowling line-up lacks spin penetration and (Murali) Kartik is not a great turner of the ball,''

Pride at stake: PCB chief

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also not in favour of introducing performance-based incentives for players for the series against India as it feels national pride and not money should be the motivation.

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan said in Karachi the PCB has no plans to announce incentives as the players are well paid and ``supposed to do well'' for the team and country.

``What bonuses or incentives? They are professionals and playing for the green cap and national pride. Isn't that good enough?'' Shaharyar said at a press conference in Karachi.

Raking in the moolah

The Pakistan Cricket Board apart, TEN Sports, the telecast rights holder for the series, is also laughing all the way to the bank.

While the PCB has already announced that it has secured record earnings of $22 million (Rs.130 crore) from the series, TEN Sports is keeping its earnings under wraps.

Shabbir rushes back

Shabbir Ahmed, one of Pakistan's key bowlers, has returned from Australia after reportedly rectifying his suspect bowling action. Shabbir was asked to go to Australia and consult bowling expert Daryl Foster after international umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Bowden had questioned it during the fifth ODI in New Zealand in January.

Foster's report about Shabbir's action will be received in next two or three days, a PCB spokesman was quoted by the Dawn, as saying.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport