Pakistan's pace bowler Shoaib Akthar opts out of training session in Colombo
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758. Pakistan reached the capital of Sri Lanka from Hambantota after which the team took to the nets
for a long training session ahead of their crucial clash with the co-hosts on Saturday in the 10th match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2011.
While the team was practicing in the nets, their ace bowler Akhtar was seen on the sidelines most of the time. Akhtar’s missing on the practice session has raised doubts regarding his fitness.
However, team manager Intikhab Alam was quick to rule out any fitness problems regarding the pacer. “Shoaib is fit and in good touch like the rest of his team’s members,” he reiterated.
Akhtar is crucial for Pakistan as he is the only bowler who has the ability to bowl well with the new and old ball in the current Pakistan squad, and in the absence of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Amir-c1991, he is to spearhead the Pakistani pace attack along with
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Abdul-Razzaq-c889.
Akhtar bowled five highly impressive overs against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752 in Pakistan’s first outing of the World Cup where he gave away just ten runs on a wicket which suited the batsmen, nevertheless the pacer stayed wicket less. It is only the beginning and the tournament
will get tougher later when the powerhouses of cricket will start playing against each other, and at that time it will be imperative for Pakistan to have all their bowlers at the top of their fitness level.
Akhtar who is playing his last World Cup, has vowed to play all the matches for his country and has time and time again reiterated that there is nothing wrong with his fitness level. The pacer has claimed to be at the highest level of his fitness. However,
he has been seen limping in the field a couple of times last month when Pakistan were playing in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 against the home side.
The pacer however, gave an impressive performance with the ball against the Black Caps and played most of the matches on the tour. Akhtar got his one last chance to make a return in International cricket when Asif and Amir were excluded from the national
team due to the spot-fixing fiasco.
Since his return, the Rawalpindi Express has managed to awe his critics who suggested that the speedster could never make a comeback in the National team.
Akhtar has warned the rest of the world not to take his team lightly, and even in the absence of three main players http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salman-c88163 But, Asif and Amir, Pakistan have enough fire power to lift their second ever World Cup this year.
“We are a very hurt side but very dangerous. I think the crowds, whatever the team has been through for the last six-seven months, that will inspire us. Pakistan need to gather themselves and we are motivated to play in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 and Sri Lanka in the quarterfinals,"
he said.
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