Pakistan’s pace bowling battery, led by Shoaib Akhtar, can demolish India in today’s second Test if they control their speed and bowl straight, according to the legendary Wasim Akram.
“My advice to our fast bowlers is to bowl straight, because in modern-day cricket batsmen do not fear fast bowling,” Akram told AFP.
Pakistan, trailing 0-1 in the three-match series, hope to take advantage of the rock-hard Gaddafi Stadium wicket that sports a tinge of grass to outwit the Indians.
“You bowl straight to put pressure on the batsmen because bowling fast is not the main thing,” Akram said. “The Indians did that very well in Multan and won even on a flat wicket.”
Even as India bowled out Pakistan twice to fashion an innings victory over the archrivals, Akhtar went wicketless in his 32 overs.
“The important thing is to make batsmen play all six deliveries in an over,” said Akram, who claimed 414 Test wickets and a world record 502 one-day wickets.
Pakistan Diary: Ability of the Players Will Be Under Scrutiny at Lahore
From the provincial calm of Multan, coming back to the sights and sounds of Lahore is an experience.
An incredible bedlam of noise and color assaults the senses on the road connecting the two cities.
Entrepreneurial bus operators, lorries and even some minivans improve their upper decks and bedeck their sides and back with every color they can lay their hands on.
The result invariably is like a teen trying on makeup for the first time.
The elevated cab and the symmetrically closed sides make for uniformity amid a cacophony of color, with silver, green and red the predominant colors.
Even poems for their beloved are inscribed in immaculate calligraphy, with some raising a laugh with original couplets or inane comments as they criss-cross the country.
The silver or gold background they use makes for a unique sight in the lights.
There was bedlam too in Pakistan after their side lost the first Test at Multan.
For two days the team were painted in different hues, with different and divergent accounts being written or aired.
Former players of all calibers jumped on the bandwagon to criticize or blame all and sundry.
And cartoonists had a field day lampooning players and officials for their ineptness.
It was evident that the loss of the Test in Multan rankled and disappointment was immense.
Everyone wanted a quick fix. The result was an astonishing move by the selectors to bring in an opener in place of a spinner for the Lahore Test that begins today.
Constructive advice and solutions, public or in private, would have found willing listeners. But the seemingly directionless noise has just added extra pressure on a young team already dejected by their Multan performance.
Like the drivers of the exotic lorries and buses they are going back to Lahore laden with this extra weight.
And their steering ability, drive and slips will be under scrutiny.
If they fail to negotiate this crucial Test, many could find that their license is not being renewed.
