Watch out Tendulkar 
Durham asks Shoaib to play as batsman in one-day games
KARACHI: Pakistan’s speedster Shoaib Akhtar who has truck terror in the hearts of many a batsman round the world is set to step into a new role - that of a batsman - for his county Durham in their next two one-day games.
Durham for whom Shoaib took 4 for 15 in a national one-day league match against Derbyshire on Monday** has been asked to play as a specialist batsman in their next two one-day games.**
Shoaib, who is the only fast bowler of the modern era to have twice broken the 100 MPH speed barrier in international cricket, said from Durham he would be playing as a batsman in a Twenty 20s match and then a national league one-day game against Scotland on June 6.
He made it clear his county had decided to put faith in him as a batsman after he was advised by county doctors to follow a proper rehabilitation programme to ensure he does not suffer from a recurrence of his rib cage stress fracture injury.
“I will not be bowling at all in these two one-day games. I will play as a batsman. They wanted me to rest but I was very keen to play so they said okay you don’t bowl but you play as a batsman. I look at this new role as a real challenge in these two games,” Shoaib told ‘The News’.
The fast bowler, ironically, landed himself in trouble with the Pakistan Cricket authorities in April because of his batting exploits in the second innings of the third and final Test against India in Rawalpindi.
Although Shoaib was injured seriously enough not to bowl in the Indian innings after taking a fall on the second day of the test, he came out to bat on the fourth day and thrilled the crowd with a breezy knock of 28 from 14 balls.
Even in previous instances Shoaib has shown he is no slouch with the bat featuring in many valuable partnerships in test and one-day cricket. His blazing innings against England in a lost cause in the World Cup match at the Centurion in 2003 is a case in point. Even since joining Durham this season, Shoaib has been in form with the bat helping them win against Somerset with his batting efforts.
“People question my commitment to the game or the Pakistan team. If I was not committed and keen to play cricket all the time I would not have decided to even take a chance as a batsman,” he said.
Shoaib said he was getting fantastic treatment from Durham who were looking after him very well.
“They are two doctors and a physiotherapist attached with me who are working constantly on my injury and my fitness to ensure I am fit and don’t face injury problems.”
Shoaib said he had been told to rest for five days before the next twenty 20s match and the June 6th one-day match against Scotland.
“I will than have another rest period before playing a four day match.”
The 28-year old said there were lot of misconceptions about him, which he wanted to clear as soon as possible. “I want to let the people of Pakistan know that I have never played with less than 100 per cent commitment for my team.”
