Pakistan World Cup victory more important than personal goals: Shoaib Akhtar
Pakistan’s speed sensation Shoaib Akhtar has reiterated that national goals are far more important than personal ambitions and to him Pakistan’s World Cup victory is far more important than his personal goal of snatching 250 wickets in One Day Internationals
(ODI). The veteran pace bowler needs just three more wickets to reach the tally.
However, news reports suggest that it is highly unlikely for the Pakistan management to change the winning combination which defeated the belligerent Australia last week, where http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 finally succeeded in putting an end to the 34-match winning streak
of the defending champions in the World Cup since 1999.
Speaking on the current situation he is faced with, Akhtar said, “I wanted to make way for the juniors, so even if I don’t get my 250th wicket it is fine. It will be dream to reach that landmark, but if I don’t get picked, there is not much I can do.
I still remain the fastest bowler in this World Cup.”
The Pakistani pacer further said, “Pakistan winning the World Cup is far more important than reaching personal goals. For me, nation comes first. That’s the way I have been. So I will accept any team decision.”
The flamboyant speedster reiterated that he would stay ready in case his team needed him and decided to place him in the playing eleven. However, he has no regrets for being in the sidelines for now as he feels that he has had his time and played the
game to the best of his ability.
Akhtar insisted that when everyone thought he was not good enough to be in the World Cup squad it was his determination and hard work that earned him a place in the 15-member squad for the mega event. He feels that he proved his worth by playing this
year’s mega event. He announced his retirement from international cricket after the World Cup last week.
The veteran bowler still has great love for the game and stressed that he would want to be the same cricketer in another life time even though his career was marred by controversies and injuries. He feels that he was born to be a pace bowler.
The pacer suffered a major humiliation when he was hit for 28 runs in an over by Ross Taylor from New Zealand. The kiwis posted a mammoth total of 302 runs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 was dropped twice in the same over of Akhtar
by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and according to insiders Akhtar ended up in a heated brawl with the butterfingered Akmal.
Nevertheless, the Rawalpindi Express was dropped from the next two matches against minnows http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746. Pakistan won both the fixtures which has made the inclusion of Akhtar in the winning combination even more difficult.
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