PESHAWAR, 19 March 2004 — India captain Saurav Ganguly appeared to raise fresh doubts over Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s action yesterday on the eve of the sides’ third one-dayer.

“I was asked if he was chucking or not,” Ganguly said, when asked to clarify local media reports that he had questioned Shoaib’s action after the second match at Rawalpindi. “I said: ‘You’re all seeing it on TV. I don’t need to answer that. Everyone knows the truth’.” Shoaib, regarded as the world’s fastest bowler and who has been clocked at 100mph, has been reported three times for a suspect bowling action. He was given the all-clear in 2001. Experts in Australia said he had an abnormally flexible elbow joint. Shoaib took three wickets in Rawalpindi, where Pakistan won a tense match by 12 runs after piling up 329 for six. “Ganguly is entitled to his own opinion,” Pakistan team manager Haroon Rashid said. “This matter is the International Cricket Council’s concern. As far as we are concerned, Shoaib has been cleared and his action is legal.” Ganguly’s remarks have added an extra edge to the five-match series, which is tied at 1-1 after two high-scoring games. Today’s wicket at Peshawar is expected to produce another run feast. “The wicket looks slightly green, so that might help the bowlers a bit more,” Ganguly said. “This is a small ground and they’ve left some grass on the wicket because otherwise it leaves no margin for error for the bowlers at all.”

Born-Again Afridi Revels in Second Chance

• Pakistan’s popular all-rounder Shahid Afridi said yesterday he had almost given up playing cricket in the past year, but adoring fans made him change his mind.

The hard-hitting batsman had not been considered by the selectors since Pakistan’s embarrassing first round exit from the World Cup in South Africa a year ago.

But he was brought back for the ongoing one-day series against India and responded with a blistering 80 off 58 balls in his comeback match at Rawalpindi on Tuesday which helped Pakistan win. “These last 12 months have been a wake up call,” the 24-year-old said ahead of today’s third one-dayer to be played before his adoring fellow Pathans in this northwestern city.

“I had almost decided to give up cricket, but the affection I received from fans kept me going. Even in India, where I went as captain of the Pakistan A team last year, the crowds kept urging me to fight for my place in the national side. It was very touching. If I can score consistently, I know I will be here to stay for a long time.”

1,000 Indian Cricket Lovers to Walk Across Pakistan Border

• In Lahore, About 1,000 Indian cricket fans will walk across the Pakistani border this weekend to watch the last one-day matches between the rivals, officials said.

“About 500 Indian spectators will cross the Wagah border on foot” today, Sutlej Rangers border force officer Alamzeb Khan told AFP yesterday. “They are coming to witness One-Day International matches here.” A further 500 are expected tomorrow ahead of the two day-and-night matches being played in Lahore on March 21 and 24. Lahore, the second largest Pakistani city and known as the country’s cultural capital, is also the venue of a Test match starting on April 5. Officials said some 8,000 Indian fans are expected to arrive in Lahore by air and trains for the one-dayers and the Test, as cricket frenzy grips the subcontinent for India’s first Pakistan tour for 14 years. The Pakistani government last week accepted an Indian request to run special trains and buses for the Indian sports fans.