“We are a hurt side so we are here to hurt others,” Shoaib
Akhtar, the enigmatic Pakistan fast bowler, told reporters here at the P Sara
Stadium on the sidelines of his team’s training session.
Pakistan came into this 14-nation tournament mired in
controversy as three of their key players — Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and
Salman Butt — were banned after being found guilty of spot fixing.
Not many were willing to give the 1992 champions much chance
of winning the World Cup but Pakistan have made their presence felt with a
thrilling 11-run triumph over co-hosts Sri Lanka, who are counted among the favorites
for the title.
Akhtar, one of Pakistan’s senior most players, said that all
the controversies surrounding his team have brought the players closer.
“The mood in the camp is good. …Every time a controversy
happens to us it gathers us and what better platform than a World Cup.
“We have the capacity and those who were writing us off and
rating Sri Lanka as favorites they are not able to talk now.”
Akhtar stressed that the underdog tag has turned out to be a
blessing in disguise for Pakistan. “It’s good for us that people are not rating
us high, we are the dark horses so we are dark horses and that's fine with me.”
Akhtar played down fears about his fitness, saying that over
the years he has learnt to live with his injury-prone body. “I have always
played half fit throughout my career. I have hyper extension knee joints and
hands, so I always have niggles,” he said.
The pacer bowled a beautiful delivery to scalp top Sri Lanka
batsman Mahela Jayawardene – a wicket that swung the match in Pakistan’s
direction. “I’m happy that I got wicket at a time when it was needed,” he said.
Akhtar believes that Pakistan needed to make better use of
the new ball. “We used the new ball well, not brilliantly but average use of
good ball. If we are able to contain more with the new ball then the blend we
have in this team, we have variety in our bowling which no other team has,
different leg-spinners, fastish leg-spin by Shahid Afridi and Abdur Rehman,
myself, Umar Gul and Abdul Razzaq, and that variety in bowling makes us
superior from other team's bowling.”
Akhtar agreed that Pakistan’s pace attack would have been
lethal had Mohammad Aamer and Asif been available for national duty. “Obviously
we have suffered badly. They were the best with the new ball. Had they been
with us it would have been the most lethal bowling attack.”
However, Akhtar was quick to add that even without the
banned duo, Pakistan have an impressive bowling attack. “The way Gul and Razzaq
were bowling, the way Wahab Riaz is bowling we still can do much better job
than anyone can think of. We should not get complacent with the new ball
because the first ten overs with the new ball, if you get two, three wickets
then that could be the turning point.”
Akhtar, who once used to focus more on hurling the world’s
fastest delivery than winning matches for Pakistan, said that he has matured
now.
“I have left this race (of bowling 100 miles per hour) long
time ago. I am nearing 36 now and am more mature, so I am focusing on getting
wickets now than bowling fast.”
Akhtar said that his decision to shorten his run-up has
helped him especially on placid Sri Lankan wickets. “I have cut down on my run
up and that’s helping me bowl ten overs and save more energy.”
