Shoaib eyes yet another comeback

KARACHI: Shoaib Akhtar is back with his never-say-die attitude. The enigmatic fast bowler has declared himself a hundred percent fit and claims that his current form will allow him to make a successful international return even at a short notice.Pakistan are currently touring Sri Lanka where they lost the Test series opener in Galle by 50 runs from a seemingly winning position and it seems Shoaib is fancying his chances of earning a recall during the tour that concludes with a Twenty20 International on August 12.Shoaib, who turns 34 next month, has been rejected as spent force by his critics who believe that the injury-prone pacer would never be able to make a successful international.But Shoaib is confident that he will make his critics eat their words.In an interview with Geo television, Shoaib vowed that he would silence his critics by giving a forceful performance on his return to international cricket soon.“I’m going to silence the people who are talking against me by making a successful international return soon,” Shoaib said.Shoaib missed last month’s ICC World Twenty20 because of a skin problem and was later ignored for the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka.The Rawalpindi-born pacer made it clear that he has no problems with his fitness and can return to national duty any time the team needs him.“I must tell you that there were never any problems with my fitness,” said Shoaib.“I was dropped from the Twenty20 world cup on medical grounds. I’ve recovered from that and am 100 percent fit. I’m in the best form of my life and am training extensively,” he stressed.Shoaib, who has taken 178 wickets in 46 Tests and 223 wickets in 144 ODIs and eight wickets in seven T20 Internationals, said that he is even ready to bowl in tough weather conditions.“Lahore is very, very hot these days but I’ve been training there daily and can play in any type of conditions.”Shoaib thanked former pacer Waqar Younis for backing his bid to make yet another international comeback.“Waqar was a great fast bowler. He has been a good friend and also gives me valuable advice,” he said.Waqar, a former Pakistan captain, said in an interview that he believes Shoaib can play for Pakistan for a few more years. “Shoaib can still play for a couple of years for Pakistan and if that is possible then it is good for Pakistan cricket,” said Waqar. “There is no doubt he is fast and is a very intelligent bowler,” he had added.But Shoaib’s international career has been dogged by a series of disciplinary breaches. The bowler is once again facing a brush with the authorities after claiming that he can sue the current team management for conspiring against him.
Pietersen and Collingwood defy Australia in Cardiff
CARDIFF: Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood kept Australia at bay with an unbroken century stand as England got through the second session of the first Ashes Test here on Wednesday without losing a wicket.At tea, England were 194 for three with both Pietersen and Collingwood having made responsible fifties to be 52 not out and 50 not out respectively.Their stand was worth 104 after they’d come together with England faltering at 90 for three.The pair knew all about building a big partnership after sharing an England fourth-wicket record against Australia of 310 at Adelaide in 2006/07.Pietersen twice drove Ben Hilfenhaus through extra-cover for resounding boundaries shortly after lunch but his innings had so far featured just three fours in all.Australia captain Ricky Ponting, after 31 overs of seam bowling, eventually turned to Nathan Hauritz. The off-spinner had been selected for this match in spite of his two wickets on tour so far costing 260 runs.Pietersen and Collingwood then proceeded to score steadily against Hauritz (none for 41 off 15 overs) as they rebuilt the innings.Hauritz only looked like taking a wicket when Pietersen charged down the pitch before being saved from a possible stumping when the ball hit his pads.Left-arm spinner Michael Clarke, primarily a batsman, came on at the other end as Ponting looked to give his quicks a breather. Clarke almost bowled Pietersen around his pads, the ball missing leg-stump by a whisker.England went 21 overs between boundaries before Collingwood ended the drought with a couple of square cuts off Hauritz and Pietersen followed up by driving Clarke to long-off. Before lunch, Australia’s pace trio battled hard to overcome a placid pitch.When fast bowler Brett Lee, a veteran of 76 Tests, was ruled out Monday with a rib injury it meant Australia, who thrashed England 5-0 in 2006/07, would go into this match with an attack where all the bowlers were making Ashes debuts.They were given a boost thanks to a brilliant catch by Mike Hussey.Left-hander Alastair Cook (10), playing loosely away from his body against Hilfenhaus, saw Hussey hold a diving one-handed chance in the gully. Ravi Bopara was then hit second ball in the throat by lively first-change Peter Siddle, unlucky not to take a wicket, and he got off the mark thanks to a fortunate inside edge.But Bopara, who’d scored hundreds in his last three Tests, all against the West Indies, did strike several elegant boundaries.However, he was also hit on the head by a Mitchell Johnson bouncer. England captain Andrew Strauss, who’d won the toss, looked secure while making 30. But it was the left-hander, not Bopara, who fell to a well-directed bouncer from Johnson which he gloved to Clarke in the slips.And then Bopara’s uneven innings of 35, featuring six fours, came to an end when he spooned a catch off Johnson to Phillip Hughes at point. —AFPEngland won tossEngland 1st innings*A J Strauss c Clarke b Johnson 30A N Cook c Hussey b Hilfenhaus 10R S Bopara c Hughes b Johnson 35K P Pietersen not out 52P D Collingwood not out 50Extras (b8, lb1, nb8) 17Total (3 wickets; 59 overs) 194To bat: †M J Prior, A Flintoff, S C J Broad, G P Swann, J M Anderson, M S PanesarFall: 1-21, 2-67, 3-90Bowling: Johnson 13-2-45-2; Hilfenhaus 12-3-27-1 (3nb); Siddle 15-2-52-0 (3nb); Hauritz 14-1-41-0 (2nb); Clarke 5-0-20-0Australia P J Hughes, S M Katich, *R T Ponting, M E K Hussey, M J Clarke, M J North, †B J Haddin, M G Johnson, N M Hauritz, B W Hilfenhaus, P M SiddleUmpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and B R Doctrove (West Indies). TV umpire: R A Kettleborough. Match referee: J J Crowe (New Zealand)