Fit-again Shoaib Akhtar yesterday vowed to use a short stint with Surrey to mount a comeback at international level, saying he would do his best to help the English county side avoid relegation.
Surrey, who look set for the drop as they are bottom of the County Championship table with only three matches to go, have recruited the mercurial Pakistan paceman on a contract until the end of the season.
Akhtar, on the way back from injury and disciplinary breaches, is scheduled to fly to London today.
PHOTO: AP
The 33-year-old said there could be no better launching pad for a return.
Akhtar said he would try and live up to the standards of one of his idols, Waqar Younis, who once played for Surrey, and “keep up the traditions of Pakistan fast bowling.”
The bowler said his arrival in England has been slightly delayed due to family illness.
“My mother was not well, otherwise I wanted to reach there for the last four or five matches. But still it is a great opportunity for me to prove my fitness before the Pakistan team fly out to South Africa or for a possible series or against India at home,” Akhtar said.
Pakistan’s team is lacking international cricket after Australia postponed a full tour to the country over security fears in March.
To add to their woes, the International Cricket Council was forced to postpone this month’s Champions Trophy until next year after non-Asian teams raised concerns about playing in Pakistan, which has been riven by bombings and suicide attacks.
The postponement deprived Akhtar of the chance to stage a comeback after he was handed a five-year ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over a series of discipline violations.
The ban followed his public criticism of the PCB after he was axed from a list of 15 contracted players in January.
In July, an appeal committee reduced the ban to 18 months but imposed a fine of 7 million rupees (US$93,000). A Lahore High Court hearing suspended the ban but upheld the fine, paving the way for his selection in the Trophy squad last month.
Akhtar said he had put his troubles behind him.
“The past eight months were disappointing, but now I am focused on my return. I want to bowl at least 15 to 20 overs in an innings and gain rhythm because we are hosting India late in the year,” he said.
Akhtar has played 46 Tests and 138 one-day internationals for Pakistan since making his debut in 1997, but has not played any international cricket this year.
The PCB said it had issued a no objections certificate, allowing Akhtar to play for Surrey.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two