E-Paper
Shoaib bowls from full run up
Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar gave his first fitness test to join the team in India for one-day matches when he bowled from his full run-up.
Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar gave his first fitness test to join the team in India for One-Day Internationals when he bowled from his full run-up.
The 29-year-old now appears to be fast recuperating from a hamstring strain suffered in January as he bowled out four overs from a full run-up at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday.
"Zeeshan kept wickets and Shoaib bowled for a full four overs off his full run-up. He seemed to be fine and got plenty of nip into his deliveries," PIA team manager Rashid Khan was quoted as saying by a local daily.
Shoaib had asked Rashid, a former Test player, to tell the PIA wicket-keeper Ahmed Zeeshan Malik to keep wickets on the main centre pitch while he bowled.
When contacted, Shoaib said he had been bowling in the nets at the National Cricket Academy for the last two days — but in short spells.
"But today I bowled off a proper run-up on the main pitch to see whether I felt any strain in my hamstring muscles, and so far so good. I have always been keen to join the team for the one-dayers," he said.
Interestingly, the Pakistan team management, chief selector Wasim Bari and even the Pakistan Cricket Board appear reluctant to accept that Shoaib may have recovered from his hamstring strain and can join the team for the one-dayers from April 2, the paper reported.
