Shoaib Akhtar "Captaining My Country is still My Dream" by PakPassion.Net

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Player:

Shoaib Akhtar

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DateLine: 19th February 2010

 

The Rawalpindi Express has not played any international cricket for more than 9 months and his last performance for Pakistan was hardly spectacular. Akhtar managed 12 deliveries for 18 runs and took no wickets in a Twenty/20 match against the Australians in Dubai. Pakistan eased to a seven wicket victory, but Shoaib certainly didn't look the matchwinner of yesteryear.

 

As far as test cricket is concerned, Akhtar has not featured in a five day match for Pakistan for more than two years and many cricket followers and scribes around the globe are asking the question "Will we ever see Shoaib Akhtar in a Pakistan shirt again" ?

 

Akhtar who is currently skippering Khan Research Laboratories in the ongoing Royal Bank of Scotland Cup, in place of the unfit Mohammad Wasim has so far bowled only 13.2 overs in the competition, although this can partly be attributed to the squad rotation policy in force at KRL.

 

Speaking exclusively to PakPassion.net from Rawalpindi ahead of the crucial clash against Habib Bank, Akhtar felt that playing in the Royal Bank of Scotland Cup was the start of his comeback and he feels that things are coming together for him.

 

"I've been working really hard on getting match fit in the pre tournament camp we held and am playing currently in the Royal Bank of Scotland Cup and have been feeling good. The most important thing is to get some cricket under my belt. We are unbeaten and second in the table with one game to play against Habib Bank" stated Akhtar.

 

34 year old Akhtar who has a strike rate of just over 41 deliveries per wicket in test cricket expressed his satisfaction in being given the added responsibility of captaining KRL in the RBS Cup. "I've enjoyed the responsibility of captaining the boys and they have shown me great support. Captaincy is something that I really enjoy".

 

Whilst Akhtar has been given the responsibility of captaining his domestic team, he has never been entrusted with the opportunity to captain his country despite featuring in nearly 200 matches for Pakistan over a period of more than 12 years and it's something that he hopes could change before he hangs up his boots.

 

"Captaining your country is the dream of every cricketer and I am no different. As a young boy when I first started playing cricket it was my dream to captain my country. I hope that one day I will be given that chance before I retire as it's still my dream to captain Pakistan".

 

Akhtar was also in no mood to believe that his international career is over and stated that his aim is to win back his place in the Pakistan team. "My aim and goal is to win back my place in the Pakistan team and I strongly believe that I will be back. You know things change very quickly in Pakistan cricket and I'm confident that my chance will come again. I can't say whether it will be the Twenty/20 World Cup or later in the summer in England, but I believe my chance will come".

 

Shoaib Akhtar's pace and aggression was something that the Pakistan team certainly lacked in the recent tour of Australia and Akhtar was blunt in his reply when asked about what he thought of the Pakistan performance down under. "They were outclassed by a fitter, stronger and better team in all departments. The Australians played the better cricket and the result is there for all to see" added Akhtar.

 

KRL play against Habib Bank tomorrow in Rawalpindi and if KRL defeat Habib Bank and if other results go their way in Group B, they could make the semi final lineup.

 

Selection for the Twenty/20 World Cup is certanly something that Akhtar could achieve if he continues to feature in domestic cricket and his performances in the domestic Twenty/20 competition which commences on 27th February will undoubtedly be monitored closely by the selectors.

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
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