Quite evidently, Shoaib Akthar in my opinion has developed a new role on this team. His own words spoke of “he didn’t have to do anything” in the post game interview today. After rattling Dravid in the first spell, Shoaib rattled the minds of the Indian batsman, and in turn it was the other Pakistani bowlers who took advantage of it.
His bouncers and off and leg cutters, slower balls confused the Indian batsman, and thus allowed Asif, Razzaq, and later Danish to take advantage of the pressure that was exerted by Shoaib. I am not disregarding Asif, Razzaq, or Danish, but I believe that Shoaib has a lot to do with today’s display for Pakistani bowling. Hey may have only taken one wicket, and that of the most prominent batsman on the Indian team, and that may have been enough to rattle the entire Indian team, whom I think relies on Dravid to see them through.
Well done Pakistan, and once again, well done Shoaib… the ALL ROUNDER, or so he says he was since he was born
Shoaib will play as the senior bowler and a dependable tailender. With the likes of Asif, Rana and Razzaq around him, he will have support from the depth of bowling options and variety, which will ease off his burdun in bowling department. Also he will be more keen to take wickets and will improve his LnL, which was a big problem on 2nd day of this test, looked like he is bowling everywhere but to the wicket. In short, he will only improve from here and will play a vital role in important series Pak has to play this whole year.
However, I will not consider him for captaincy in future, in anycase. We have Yk, Akmal and Malik in the line for vice captaincy once Inzi retired.
Shoaib bowled well no doubt but to say that Asif and Razzler produced those un-playable deliveries because of Shoabi's play is too ridiculous. It has nuthing to do with Actor.
:) some how kamran akmal reminds me of asif mujataba.........they look alike to a great extent though asif did not have that permanent goofy grin......
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No one is suggesting any thing, and this gives you no reason to call him an actor. Take it back or I’l send you packing zair-e-aab.
I’m too tired to handle another inticing Shoaib basher thread,Now Git!
no one said that it was shoaib’s play that produced those deliveries, i simply said that shoaib gave the other bowlers more confidence. If shoaib was not in the lineup, Sehwag and Dravid, there would definetely be an emotional lift for India. As far as anyone is considered, Shoaib is the only feared pakistani bowler. He builds pressure on the batsman, and whether or not he takes a wicket, it allows the other bowlers to feed off him. Asif was full of confidence, and he did not have the pressure on him being a young bowler, especially bowling to the likes of Sehwag, Dravid and Tendulkar. He did great, but if he had not, nobody would have faulted him, it would have been shoaib for not doing well! So, for Asif to do well means that Shoaib did play a role in his sucess otherwise everyone would be all over Shoaib and his performance! He took TWO wickets in the whole match while Asif took 7!
When asked to comment on the changed dressing room environment, Shoaib responded its a culture of forgiveness, forgive, forgive, forgive. Akhter and his teammates have forgiven each other for their past indescretions, its time Guppies also followed suite.
Geoff Boycott kept on making a very important point, Shoaib may not be taking wickets, but the mere fact that he was fit enough to bowl 4-5 overs throughout the day kept Indian batsmen on the backfoot and allowed other bowlers to attack. Shoaib had no qualms in accepting contribution and importance of other players, he was all praise for Asif and Razzak. On the issue of Razzak he went on to say that he was proud to say that it was his insistence which won Razzia a place in the third test.
