Shoaib Akhtar vows memorable India tour by AFP

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Player:	Shoaib Akhtar
Event:	Pakistan in India 2007/08

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DateLine: 27th October 2007

 

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar vowed Saturday to make the upcoming tour of India memorable after the paceman was recalled to the team for the crucial series against the arch-rivals.

 

"I promise that I will do my best and give my full effort on the tour of India to help my team win both the one-dayer and Test series," Akhtar said in an interview with AFP.

 

The 32-year-old was recalled on Friday for possibly his last tour of India after he served a ban of 13 international matches, punishment primarily for hitting a teammate with a bat last month.

 

Akhtar was also fined 3.4 million rupees (56,000 dollars) after he struck fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif on the thigh after team practice in Johannesburg ahead of the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup.

 

Akhtar was placed on probation for two years, which means he could be banned for life if he again breaches the players' code of conduct.

 

The punishment meant he missed Pakistan's Test series and four one-day matches against South Africa. He has been named in the squad for the fifth and final one-dayer against the Proteas here on Monday.

 

Akhtar vowed that his career was back on track after the mistake which he described as something he would rather forget.

 

"What I did was silly and happened in a fit of anger," Akhtar said. "I apologised to Asif, to the team players and to all my countrymen and now I hope that my career will not suffer again."

 

"I have missed a lot of cricket due to injuries and other reasons, but now I want to focus on my game and do my best for the country," said Akhtar who played his last Test in South Africa in January this year.

 

Despite the intense rivalry between the two teams, Akhtar said he is respected in India and is looking forward to the tour.

 

"This may be my last tour so I must do something special for the fans in India so that they remember me in a good way," said Akhtar.

 

His only complete tour of India was in 1999 when, as a newcomer to the Pakistan team, he took eight wickets in the Asian Test championship match at Calcutta -- including the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid off successive deliveries.

 

"Those were the golden moments of my career and I still want to get Tendulkar and Dravid's wickets because they are special players," said Akhtar who missed Pakistan's 2005 India tour due to injury.

 

His last tour to India ended in ignominy after he and fellow paceman Mohammad Asif were expelled after testing positive to the banned steroid nandrolone, two days before the start of the Champions Trophy.

 

Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year before the bans were lifted on appeal.

 

Akhtar said both the one-day and Test series will be exciting. "Since our pace attack is better than theirs I feel the balance is tilted towards Pakistan and if we bat well then we can return as winners."

 

Pakistan leave for New Delhi on November 1 and will play the first of five one-day internationals at Guwahati on November 5.

 

It will be followed by three Tests in New Delhi, Calcutta and Bangalore.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)