Shoaib Akhtar admits spot-fixing controversy made Pakistan a stronger side
Pakistan fast bowler http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Akhtar-c90081 admitted that the spot-fixing controversy had rejuvenated the team to fight against the stronger oppositions in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2011.
Akhtar, nicknamed as the Rawalpindi Express, maintained that the spot-fixing controversy has ‘hurt’ the team and they will take their revenge from their oppositions.
“We are a hurt side so we are here to hurt other,” Akhtar lamented before adding that Pakistan have been hit with a number of controversies in the past but the team has always come out of them as a unit.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 were not considered the favourites at the start of the ongoing World Cup but their recent 11-run victory over co-hosts Sri Lanka on Saturday has made them as the dark horses of the tournament.
Pakistan also saw off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752 in their World Cup opening match by 205 runs.
The flamboyant bowler stated that the absence of the two banned bowlers have hampered the bowling options for skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 and coach Waqar Younis.
“We have suffered badly (without Amir and Asif), they were the best with the new ball…it would have been the most lethal bowling attack (with having them in the team,” Akhtar stated.
Fast bowlers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salman-Butt-c2418 have been banned from playing cricket for at least 5 years each by the International Cricket Council following their involvement in spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour
to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 in 2010.
However, Akhtar stated that it gave a chance to others to step up their game and show what they are capable of. He said that the trio of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Abdul-Razzaq-c41623 are slowly adapting to the conditions and their performance will really matter
in Pakistan’s Group matches in the coming weeks.
Akhtar himself marked his return to the national side as he took two crucial wickets against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 to guide his team to an important victory.
Pakistan will seek to cash on the winning momentum when they play against minnows http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391, 2011 in Colombo.
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