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Pakistan sets off for bigger test in Sri Lanka
Karachi, May 04: Pakistan`s young cricketers set off for Sri Lanka today to compete in a tri-nation one-day tournament that could make or break pacer Shoaib Akhtar.
Karachi, May 04: Pakistan`s young cricketers set off for Sri Lanka today to compete in a tri-nation one-day tournament that could make or break pacer Shoaib Akhtar.
Dubbed the "Rawalpindi Express", Shoaib`s career derailed after Pakistan`s first-round World Cup exit in March.
To add further humiliation, the Pakistan cricket chief warned that the Sri Lanka tour could be Shoaib`s last if he didn`t pull up his socks.
"The Sri Lanka tour could be a turning point in Shoaib`s career. He is a match winner but it is up to him how he goes about his cricket now and how much importance he lays on his role as a key figure," captain Rashid Latif said.
The 27-year-old pacer, who twice achieved the honour of breaking the 100mph barrier with his deliveries, was dogged by bowling controversies, vulnerability to injury and discipline problems. "Shoaib is his own worst enemy and this is his last chance to revive his career," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia warned last week.
A perennial newsmaker, Shoaib`s bowling action was questioned on three occasions and he was twice suspended on disciplinary grounds.
With 88 wickets in 25 Tests and 133 in 81 one-day internationals, Shoaib is Pakistan`s frontline bowler but will be forbidden from making statements and will have to let his performance do the talking.
"This tour is the first stage of Shoaib`s comeback and we would like him to keep a low profile and save his energy for the England tour next month," Latif said. Shoaib is the only one of eight senior players dumped after Pakistan`s humiliating first-round exit from the World Cup earlier this year to win a recall.
Pakistan`s revamped team under Latif as captain and Javed Miandad as coach won a quadrangular tournament in Sharjah last month.
"The Sharjah win was a big morale booster for the new team but the tri-series in Sri Lanka would be a bigger test as the opposition is stronger," the Pakistan captain said.
Hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand also feature in the May 10-23 one-day tournament. Pakistan has two uncapped players in 25-year-old middle order batsman Yasir Hameed, who can also bowl leg-spin, and 28-year-old opener Faisal Athar.
Squad: Rashid Latif (captain), Yousuf Youhana (vice captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umer, Faisal Iqbal, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Yasir Hameed, Faisal Athar, Abdul Razzaq, Shabbir Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Umer Gul and Danish Kaneria. Coach: Javed Miandad. Manager: Haroon Rasheed.
Bureau Report
To add further humiliation, the Pakistan cricket chief warned that the Sri Lanka tour could be Shoaib`s last if he didn`t pull up his socks.
"The Sri Lanka tour could be a turning point in Shoaib`s career. He is a match winner but it is up to him how he goes about his cricket now and how much importance he lays on his role as a key figure," captain Rashid Latif said.
The 27-year-old pacer, who twice achieved the honour of breaking the 100mph barrier with his deliveries, was dogged by bowling controversies, vulnerability to injury and discipline problems. "Shoaib is his own worst enemy and this is his last chance to revive his career," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia warned last week.
A perennial newsmaker, Shoaib`s bowling action was questioned on three occasions and he was twice suspended on disciplinary grounds.
With 88 wickets in 25 Tests and 133 in 81 one-day internationals, Shoaib is Pakistan`s frontline bowler but will be forbidden from making statements and will have to let his performance do the talking.
"This tour is the first stage of Shoaib`s comeback and we would like him to keep a low profile and save his energy for the England tour next month," Latif said. Shoaib is the only one of eight senior players dumped after Pakistan`s humiliating first-round exit from the World Cup earlier this year to win a recall.
Pakistan`s revamped team under Latif as captain and Javed Miandad as coach won a quadrangular tournament in Sharjah last month.
"The Sharjah win was a big morale booster for the new team but the tri-series in Sri Lanka would be a bigger test as the opposition is stronger," the Pakistan captain said.
Hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand also feature in the May 10-23 one-day tournament. Pakistan has two uncapped players in 25-year-old middle order batsman Yasir Hameed, who can also bowl leg-spin, and 28-year-old opener Faisal Athar.
Squad: Rashid Latif (captain), Yousuf Youhana (vice captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umer, Faisal Iqbal, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Yasir Hameed, Faisal Athar, Abdul Razzaq, Shabbir Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Umer Gul and Danish Kaneria. Coach: Javed Miandad. Manager: Haroon Rasheed.
Bureau Report