| Malik promises inspired performance | |
| Ahead of the high-voltage tour to India, Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik today vowed to make-up for the disappointing home series loss to South Africa by winning the series against their arch-rivals. |
| • | Shoaib Akhtar is no troublemaker, says Malik | ||
| Shoaib Akhtar's erratic temperament has often come as embarrassment to Pakistan but captain Shoaib Malik and coach Geoff Lawson today threw their weight behind the enigmatic speedster and hoped the pacer to fire on all cylinders in the cricket series against India. Shoaib is just back from a 13-match ban following his brawl with fellow paceman Mohammad Asif, whom he hit with a bat just before the Twenty20 World Cup. The 'Rawalpindi Express', however, returned with a bang, claiming four wickets against South Africa and both his captain and coach expect him to continue the good work without making any fuss. "We know if he gets going, how dangerous he can be. It's important that he plays well and does what team requires from him," said Lawson. He earlier had said that Shoaib, who often had problems with the Pakistan cricket establishment, realised it was his last chance to make a mark and the team did not want any trouble from him.
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| We want to settle scores with India: Lawson | |
| Barely a couple of hours after landing on Indian soil, Pakistan fired their first salvo by bluntly telling their arch-rivals that they were here to "settle a few scores" during the upcoming cricket series. Setting the tone for another fierce cricketing rivalry between the two traditional foes, Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said the Twenty20 World Cup final defeat was now "history" and it would have no bearing on the outcome of the series. "Our defeat in the Twenty20 World Cup final is history and we are here to play a new series," Malik told a crowded press conference. Coach Geoff Lawson said Pakistan would try to avenge their Twenty20 final defeat against the Indian team. "We had lost the final of Twenty20 World Cup against India, so we have some scores to settle," he said. Lawson asserted the pace attack was capable of compensating for the injured speedster,Mohammad Asif. "At the moment, we have four very good pace bowlers in the ranks. Shoaib Akhtar is back and Umar Gul was outstanding in the Twenty20 World Cup. Rao Iftikar was the highest wicket-taker in the series against South Africa and then we also have Sohail Tanveer.'' Malik heaped praise on left-arm seamer RP Singh saying, "He has emerged as an extraordinary bowler. His line, length and pace - everything has improved. He looks a different bowler altogether since we last played against him.'' "Anyway, we have a plan in place to disturb his rhythm."
(Seems like Geoff Lawson has taught Shoaib Malik few Aussie tactics about speaking of the other team!😉) |
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