Shoaib Akhtar not used properly in the World Cup by Pakistan: says former captain Aamir Sohail
Former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail has slammed the Pakistan cricket team management for not getting the best out of Shoaib Akhtar in the ICC Cricket World Cup, 2011.
The fast bowler was dropped for the fixture against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 because of his poor form against the Black Caps in which he went for 70 runs in his nine overs. The paceman made his mind to quit international cricket after the World Cup, following Pakistan's
110-run defeat against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754.
The ex-opener opined that it would have been best to use Akhtar in short bursts, that way he could have played a more important role in the showpiece event.
“If he was selected to play in the World Cup then our team management should have devised a plan to use him but it seems like they did not have anything like that. Pakistan failed to get the best out of him,” he said.
The former captain gave the example of Australia in the previous edition of the tournament and praised Ricky Ponting for using the veteran Glenn McGrath as a first change bowler. McGrath eventually became the Player of the Tournament with maximum number
of wickets. Sohail further noted that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 was using the pacer Brett Lee very well in the current tournament.
Sohail praised the Rawalpindi Express’s services for Pakistan and said that Akhtar has always been a passionate servant of Pakistan cricket and he is someone who fights till the end.
Akhtar has played under the captaincy of Sohail and the latter said that the fast bowler always aimed big.
“When I first met him, the first thing that I noticed was that he was brimming with confidence and passion. It was obvious that he was a fighter. He was just like a wild and untamed horse. Had he been tamed to do the job properly he could have achieved much
more,” he said.
The Rawalpindi Express has had a career plagued with fitness problems and controversies but he has been a genuine match winner for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 and has brought laurels for the green shirts.
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