DHAKA, (Reuters) – Pakistan’s experienced Shoaib Akthar today brushed aside the suspension of two of his partners in the Pakistan pace attack, predicting they still had more than enough variety to succeed in the World Cup.
Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, were banned for at least five years along with batsman Salman Butt earlier this month after they were found guilty of corruption by an International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal in Doha.
“Obviously, we are unfortunate that they are not there. But still whatever the pace attack we have is good enough to win matches,” Shoaib told a news conference in Dhaka ahead of next Saturday’s World Cup opening in the sub-continent.
He said Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz and himself along with Junaid Khan could still restrict any side in the world.
“We have the best combination for the new ball and reverse with the older. I think we can manage to put it right.”
Shoaib said the strength of his team lay in swing bowling, especially reverse swing with the more battered, older ball.
The 35-year old pace bowler hinted this was going to be his last World Cup and he was ready to take whatever came his way.
“This is the third (World Cup) in my career and it is very special, obviously. But my plan is to play for a longer period. I am not sure about it,” he said.
“To make this World Cup full of memories, you know, every moment, every ball, every run is going to be memorable for me and I want to take it all in,” he said.
Shoaib, who has claimed 244 wickets in 160 one-day internationals, said winning this World Cup would be a perfect gift for his cricket-mad country.
“It (winning World Cup) will bring the charm back to Pakistan. People in Pakistan are missing cricket.”
The country has been denied home test and one-day international series since March 2009 and a chance to help host the World Cup (Feb 19-April 2) because of a gun attack on the touring Sri Lankan team.
At the last World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007, Pakistan were knocked out in the first round and their coach Bob Woolmer was found dead during the tournament in his Jamaican hotel room.
