LAHORE, April 4: Pakistan's pace bowling battery, led by Shoaib Akhtar, can demolish India in Monday's second Test here if they control their speed and bowl straight, according to the legendary Wasim Akram.
"My advice to our fast bowlers is to bowl straight, because in modern day cricket batsmen do not fear fast bowling," Wasim said. Pakistan, trailing 0-1 in the three-match series, hope to take advantage of the rock-hard Qadhafi Stadium wicket that sports a tinge of grass to outwit the Indians.
"You bowl straight to put pressure on the batsmen because bowling fast is not the main thing," Wasim said. "The Indians did that very well in Multan and won even on a flat wicket."
Even as India bowled out Pakistan twice to fashion an innings victory over the arch-rivals, Shoaib went wicketless in his 32 overs. "The important thing is to make batsmen play all six deliveries in an over," said Wasim, who claimed 414 Test wickets and a world record 502 one-day wickets.
"Pakistan was negative in their approach in Multan. They have to play positively here to win." Wasim brushed aside criticism in the Pakistani media that he had contributed to India's success by giving tips to 19-year-old Irfan Pathan, who claimed a career-best 4-100 at Multan.
"One or two tips to a bowler does not make him successful," he said. "It is sheer hard work which helps a good bowler move up. "And I don't think Pathan bowled extraordinarily well in Multan. He just bowled in-swingers and kept a good line and length which the Pakistanis should also do." -AFP
