Waqar Younis satisfied with Shoaib Akhtar’s fitness
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has expressed his confidence in the fitness level of injury prone speedster Shoaib Akhtar.
Talking to the media in Bangladesh, Waqar said that Akhar was bowling with good pace and would not need any injections to play during the World Cup. He was responding to an earlier statement made by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 legend Imran Khan, who suggested that due to the
humid conditions of the subcontinent, Akhtar would need energy injections.
The Pakistan coach told reporters, “I don't think he needs any injections now because he is working very hard and is keen to do well in this World Cup. We are going to take no chances and the players have been told to work hard on their fitness. As for Shoaib
he can play an important role for us in this World Cup as he is bowling at good pace."
In the absence of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, the Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar will spearhead Pakistan’s pace attack with Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz. Akhtar is the only pacer in the Pakistani outfit who can bowl well with the new ball so he will surely
be Captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-c89347 Afridi’s first choice to open the bowling.
Coach Waqar reiterated his squad’s resolve to lift the 2011 World Cup. He told the media that every player in the team knew what his role was and the whole unit was focused on doing well in the World Cup. The mega event is due to begin from 19th February
and will be jointly hosted by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747.
Akhtar has made a remarkable comeback into international cricket after suffering a series of career-threatening injuries. The speedster looked in good form during Pakistan’s tour of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754.
Akhtar, who is with the national team in Bangladesh, reiterated that he was fully fit and planning to rattle batsmen from all over the world with his pace. He ruled out the possibility of taking any team lightly during the mega event.
Akhtar acknowledged the fact that conditions in the subcontinent would test the pace bowlers, which would require them to work harder. He stressed that his side would take the warm-up game against Bangladesh very seriously because the Bengals are no longer
minnows in the world of cricket.
He said, “The weather and the pitches in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are not easy and slow and pace bowlers will have to work really hard. I think dependence on reverse swing will be a big help on these sort of pitches.”
Pakistan face Bangladesh in their first warm-up match today (15th February). They will open their World Cup campaign against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752 on 23rd February at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.
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