Pakistan’s Akhtar optimistic for Australia tour](http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/041126/3/7qjl.html)
KARACHI (AFP) - Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said that he wanted to make an impact during Pakistan’s tough cricket tour of Australia and would give his all for the team.
“I want to make a difference because I don’t know whether I would get another chance to play in Australia,” Akhtar told AFP on Friday.
“I know it’s a tough tour for us but I want to show my ability because I have been waiting for this series for a long time,” said Akhtar, known as the Rawalpindi Express for his pace.
“I know pace is not what they (Australians) fear, you need to be accurate and take wickets with your aggression and I am up to it,” he added.
The 29-year-old, who hails from the garrison city of Rawalpindi, will spearhead Pakistan’s pace attack on the tour due to start with a warm-up one-day match in Perth on December 7.
The three-Test tour – Pakistan’s first since 1999 – begins on December 16 in Perth, regarded by many as the fastest pitch in the world.
Reminded of Australia’s superb batting against New Zealand in Brisbane in the current series, which included a maiden half-century from tail-ender Glenn McGrath, Akhtar said: "At least we won’t allow bunnies like McGrath to score.
“Our bowling is better than the New Zealand team and we will show that difference.”
Since making his Test debut in 1997, Akhtar has taken 133 wickets in 33 Tests and 186 in 118 one-day games.
But in seven Tests against Australia, Akhtar’s tally is an unimpressive 20 wickets while in 19 one-dayers against the world champions he has 29.
“I know you make your mark from a big series like against Australia and I am anxious to do well, the whole team is willing to do that,” said Akhtar, whose team were routed 3-0 in both the last series against Australia.
Now led by Inzamam-ul Haq, Pakistan face their first real test since starting to rebuild after their first-round exit from the World Cup in March last year.
“This is the first Australian tour for many in the team but I don’t think it’s a weak team and people saying we would be thrashed is wrong,” said Akhtar, whose best Test figures against Australia were 5-21 in Colombo, Sri Lanka two years ago.
Then Akhtar unleashed a deadly spell in the second innings of Pakistan’s neutral venue series but Pakistan’s batsmen, always shaky against Australia, failed to make 137 with seven wickets intact on the last day.
“That loss always haunts me, we had a very new look batting line-up that time, but now we have a world-class batsman in Inzamam who can win a match single-handedly,” said Akhtar.
“But others will also have to bat sensibly because we have lost Tests in Australia because of our batting and not bowling,” said Akhtar.
After the three-match Test series, Pakistan play a tri-series one-day tournament, also involving the West Indies.
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