KARACHI, 29 March — Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will work and concentrate on a combination of speed and reverse swing to get wickets against the touring New Zealand side next month.
“On pitches in Pakistan, which are generally slow and low bounce. The secret to success is to get reverse swing and bowl with speed,” Shoaib told Arab News.
New Zealand arrive in Pakistan on April 18 to play three One-Day Internationals and two Tests at Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore.
But before the series in Pakistan, the two teams will square up in a triangular one-day tournament in Sharjah from April 9-17.
“I was very disappointed with my bowling performance against Sri Lanka in the Asian Test Championship final. I bowled on both sides of the wicket and could not sustain line and length,” admitted the Rawalpindi fast bowler.
“But for the series against New Zealand, I am working hard on improving my control over speed and to extract maximum reverse swing. Because it can a lethal combination on our pitches,” he added.
Akhtar dubbed as the “Rawalpindi Express” for his sheer speed had a miserable time in his last outing for Pakistan against Sri Lanka earlier this month.
He was savaged by the Sri Lankans after having successful comeback series against Bangladesh and the West Indies after he was reported twice by match officials for a suspect action last year in New Zealand and Sharjah.
“Every bowler has a bad match. It was Kumar Sangakkara’s day and match. He hit everything in the middle of the bat. But I will not be repeating the same mistake against New Zealand,” said Shoaib.
Shoaib said he was very keen to play a role in ending Pakistan’s poor record at home in the last few years.
“If I can contribute towards a series win over New Zealand, I would be very happy with myself. Because nothing pleases more than to help the team win. Which is why the series against the West Indies in Sharjah was so satisfying for me,” he maintained. The 25 year old said he was looking forward to playing against the Clear Black Caps next month specially in the Test matches.
Last year when Pakistan toured New Zealand for a three Test series, Shoaib was reported for a suspect action after the last One-Day International and had to return home also due to fitness problems which ruled him out of the Test matches.
“New Zealand are playing well at the moment and it will be a challenge taking them on,” he stated.
“New Zealand is an inform team and they have done well in recent matches even against Australia. But when this Pakistan team is on song, it can beat anyone,” he expressed confidence.”
Pakistan has lost ten Tests and six series at home since 1995.
Their latest reversal at home being the eight wickets defeat in the Asian Test Championship final at Lahore. Shoaib said he was very keen to play maximum number of matches for Pakistan in the period leading to the 2003 World Cup.
“It is a tough call we have so many matches. Which is why I am working hard on my fitness and bowling. And I am thankful for the support and encouragement I keep on getting from the cricket board and my teammates and management.”
Shoaib had no doubt that if Pakistan could beat New Zealand and Australia at home with lot of hard work, it could defeat anyone in the World Cup in South Africa.
“By the time the World Cup is held, it would be an open tournament and no one can say for sure which team will win it. It is a case of how well you play on that particular day. You can’t disregard any team these days in one-dayers,” he cautioned.
“But we will have the advantage of having been in South Africa for two to three months before the start of the World Cup. So our players would be well acclimatized to the conditions there”, he added.
