Looking forward to duel with Sachin: Akhtar

[vamos_rafa]

Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has lot of reasons to look forward to the upcoming World Cup, having missed the previous edition due to a doping ban, and one of them is the possibility of a duel with batting icon Sachin Tendulkar. “We all know he is a great player. Every bowler gets hit. Even Brett Lee gets hit a long way, so I am not worried about being hit for sixes by Tendulkar. I have got him off the first ball too,†Akhtar told reporters. “Not only Sachin, we will try to get other key players early because they can single-handedly win matches. Put them under pressure, and get them out early — that’s what I will like to do,†he added. Speaking of Pakistan’s chances, Akhtar said the team has to win the mega event to reclaim the fan base that has been hit due to the scandalous one year in which three of the team’s top players were handed bans for involvement in spot-fixing. “Obviously we are very hurt inside by whatever has happened to us. Pakistan needs to win this World Cup at any cost. It will bring the charm back for people in Pakistan,†said Akhtar. “We have the bowlers who can bowl at the death and we can restrict the sides. The main thing is that the ball is going to reverse swing as the match progresses. That is where I think Pakistan’s strength lies,†he added.

[panesarv]

I think the Pakis are forgetting that this is a World Cup, not Ind v Pak [all of them are coming out about playing Ind]

[Sir john]

:yayo:

[DomainK]

The Pakis should concentrate on doing what they have not done in many years- get past round one of a world cup.

[Zap_Brannigan]

again? Won't this guy ever learn? Just send bhajji at him.

[Hell Raiser]

Last time when these two met in a world cup match, Shoaib refused to bowl the second over to Tendulkar after getting spanked for 18 runs in his first over.

[asterix]

Paki logic says that beating India or taking Indian wickets will solve all of their personal, social, national & international problems..

[Gotham Cronie]

wfBRWljBq3Y I'm sure the media asked him about India/Tendulkar specifically. If you watch his response he says "India, or any other side"

[criczero]

Pak have the chance to meet the Indians in QF, as if they manage to beat zimbabwe, canada and kenya (that's the best they can hope for), and India will most likely top their group. Then they can taste some bashing from their favorite match Ind vs Pak

[zen]

I won't be surprised if it is our media that's feeding him w/ such questions :giggle: Is it a surprise that most folks who visit India or give interviews to Indian journalists have a comment to make on Tendulkar and how great a batsman he is. :P

[satyam1729]

I won't be surprised if it is our media that's feeding him w/ such questions :giggle: Is it a surprise that most folks who visit India or give interviews to Indian journalists have a comment to make on Tendulkar and how great a batsman he is. :P

Indian media is pathetic.

[Sachinism]

What were his words before the 2003 WC?

[Jersey #10]

and they say, the world cup is not about Sachin! Every player wants to match up with Sachin out there.

[Sir_Afridi]

It should be other way around. Akhtar is still the fastest bowler ever but there are many batsmen who are as good as Tendulkar playing in this WC.

[satyam1729]

It should be other way around. Akhtar is still the fastest bowler ever but there are many batsmen who are as good as Tendulkar playing in this WC.

genital wart and druggie is the fastest bowler. :giggle::giggle:

[Bublu Bhuyan]

It should be other way around. Akhtar is still the fastest bowler ever but there are many batsmen who are as good as Tendulkar playing in this WC.

I wonder whether he'll be able to show up for a match, let alone bowl 10 overs at that same speed which he did 10 years ago. Walking from the hotel room to the team bus is sufficient enough for Mr. 'Soon-To-Be-Collecting-Pensions' to pick up his next injury .

[Jersey #10]

It should be other way around. Akhtar is still the fastest bowler ever but there are many batsmen who are as good as Tendulkar playing in this WC.

Afridi is a baseball batter and Akhtar is a baseball pitcher. Akhtar chucks the ball half the times he bowls if not more. It's a shame that you compared the god of technique and class with a loser who can not even better his action for god's sake. The faster it comes, the faster it goes back - Sehwag

[cricket_usa]

Can Akthar bowl more than 2 overs? We have a sayiing "The twine thats used for making garland will smell like the flower" Not a great translation but hope I got my point across.

[Cricketics]

It should be other way around. Akhtar is still the fastest bowler ever but there are many batsmen who are as good as Tendulkar playing in this WC.

Lol.. Akhtar is hardly consistent what he used to be in pace. OTH, there is every other tom dick harry who is bowling less pace than him and still getting better bowling figures. Tendulkar got the best player of the year award = no one is as good as him.

[Manny_Pacquiao]

headline should be changed to: Looking forward to getting screwed by Tendulkar: Akhtar getting screwed by the indians is the highlight of every paki phaaaaaashsshhsht bowler's career...:giggle: