Shoaib Akhtar Impresses
Although there has been no official word on this, but I hear that Abdul Qadir, the Chief Selector, and other PCB officials are pleased with Shoaib Akhtar's performance and the attitude that he displayed during the RBS Pentangular One Day Cup that concluded last night.
Shoaib managed a team comprising of a couple of U19 players, Umar Amin and Afaq Raheem, coupled with some promising players from Islamabad, Babar Naeem, Usman Saeed, an Raheel Majeed, and few international names in Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Yasir Arafat, and Saeed Ajmal.
Shoaib, who was leading the Federal Areas Leopards in the competition, ended the tournament with a haul of 7 wickets from 4 matches at an average of 29.57.
Besides his bowling effort, it was his attitude that impressed the concerned more during the competition.
He led the Leopards with authority and discipline and played an instrumenal role in guiding a young team to the finals of the tournament.
People close to the Leopards team mentioned that the players gelled extremely well under Shoaib and that his improved attitude towards team members, especially the younger ones, was a major positive change in him.
Shoaib managed a team comprising of a couple of U19 players, Umar Amin and Afaq Raheem, coupled with some promising players from Islamabad, Babar Naeem, Usman Saeed, an Raheel Majeed, and few international names in Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Yasir Arafat, and Saeed Ajmal.Qadir in a TV interview recently said that Shoaib had responded well to the added responsibility of captaining a team at the domestic level.
This bodes well for the fast bowler who has been in the midst of a number of disciplinary problems in the past.
On the bowling front, the fact that he managed the remain injury-free during the tournament in which he played 4 matches in 10 days, is an achievement in itself.
He led his team to victory over the Baluchistan Bears with a bowling effort of 4-57 in a league match and later on bowled the crucial penultimate over against the NWFP Panthers when they needed just 3 to win off 12 deliveries.
Shoaib's maiden led the match into the final 6 deliveries and the Leopards scraped through by 1 run and into the final.
Shoaib has been at his best over the last 10 days or so. Whether this is just another temporary phase in his start-stop career or not, is for all of us to witness.
As of now, he has impressed and the concerned people are satisfied.
Lets hope it stays that way.
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