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I’m always committed: Akhtar

Amitabha Das Sharma

KOLKATA: Shoaib Akhtar betrayed the delight of a new-found glory. Having rediscovered his touch in demolishing oppositions Akhtar wore a contended smile as he walked in to address the media for the first time after coming to the city.

“It is good that everything is going in the right way again,” he said sounding relieved that the controversies and prohibitions dogging his career had taken a back seat. “I have been out of the game for almost four months. I am happy to be playing again," Akhtar added.

Talk of the evening

Akhtar, making his IPL debut for the Kolkata Knight Riders, surely was the talk of the evening. The post match news conference was virtually devoted to the Pakistan speedster’s fiery spell that ripped through the foundation of the Delhi Daredevils.

“He (Akhtar) finished the game in the first three overs,” the Daredevils’ skipper Virender Sehwag had no qualms in admitting that it was Akhtar who created all the difference. Sehwag even went a step further saying that his team perished in trying to dominate Akhtar, who opened the bowling for the host. “He is a great bowler but it is not the pace that got us in. The team is full of international players who are used to pace,” Sehwag said. “I think we became too positive about Shoaib,” he added.

Akhtar did not wish to make it a matter of personal achievement. “The team is important to me. I am committed to any team I play for,” he said. “I am enjoying cricket again. It is really satisfying how my teammates here are backing me up. This has helped me in putting behind the stress I went though in the last few weeks,” he added.

Sehwag said he just tried to play his natural game but did not succeed. “My game is simple. When I get the ball I hit it. I can finish the match in six-seven overs. Sad it did not happen here,” he said.

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