Ricky Ponting speaks highly of Shoaib Akhtar – ICC World Cup 2011
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting praised Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar on his brilliant bowling career saying that he was certainly the fastest bowler which he had ever faced.
Akhtar, who is considered one of the world’s fastest bowlers, on Thursday, has announced his retirement from international cricket after the ongoing ICC World Cup 2011. Ponting also said that he will never forget the encounters which he had with Akhtar.
Although Akhtar missed a large part of his career due to injuries and other controversies, he still earned fame as one the world’s most remarkable fast bowlers. His long run up and speedy deliveries earned him the nick name “Rawalpindi Express”.
The pacer played a key role in the 1999 World Cup where he was in his best form. With superb speed and form he guided his side to the final of the tournament by claiming 16 wickets. In the 2003 edition of the tournament, he did not give a remarkable performance and missed the 2007 tournament due to knee injury as well as doping issues. In 18 World Cup innings, he has claimed 30 wickets at an average of 25.50 including best bowling innings of 4/46.
In 162 One-Day Internationals, he has claimed 247 wickets at an average of 24.97 while his best bowling innings include 4/16 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
Ponting while recalling the past games in which he faced Akhtar said, "His one spell that everyone can watch on the internet of him bowling at me at the WACA that was reasonably entertaining, more so entertaining for Justin Langer I think.”
Ponting lauded Akhtar saying that he was a very good bowler who had faced a series of injuries due to which part of his cricketing career was wasted but still in this tournament he gave a nice bowling performance with the new ball and his prior experienced worked out for him at different occasions.
Pakistani captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, while commenting on Shoaib’s retirement said that they all feel sad for loosing Shoaib as he has been a nice team-mate and the team will remember him as a hardworking player. At the same time, Afridi backed his decision saying that it will provide opportunities for newcomers.
Pakistani coach, Waqar Younis, said that he had the experience of playing and coaching with Akhtar and found him a marvelous bowler who played remarkably for the team.
In addition many other former players congratulated Akhtar as former Pakistani cricketer Ramiz Raja said, "I would like to remember him as a tear-away bowler who with his strike-rate was a match-winner on his day.”
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