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| September 18, 2005 | Sunday | Sha'aban 13, 1426 |
Shoaib warns England
LONDON, Sept 17: Pakistan’s world’s fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar has warned England it will be tough to reproduce their Ashes heroics when they head to his country in October.
“The conditions are different,” Shoaib told BBC Five Live. “They’ll find a different atmosphere, less bounce, good pitches for batting and it’s going to be hard work for the fast bowlers. They’re going to have to rely on the reverse swing to get people out. I think it’s going to be a tough series.”
England, buoyed by their 2-1 victory in the Ashes series against Australia, leave for Pakistan on 26 Oct, with the first Test in Multan beginning on Nov 12.
Shoaib hailed the England’s performance over the summer but warned they still had plenty to learn.
“England are the best team right now. They have good guys around but Pakistan is different conditions. There’s a great opportunity for fast bowlers to learn off those kind of pitches.”
Shoaib missed England’s last tour of Pakistan five years ago, when England clinched the series with a famous third Test victory in Karachi.
But he has witnessed England’s recent triumphs at close hands as he has been playing county cricket with Worcestershire.
He believes a first-choice Pakistan attack, including himself, Mohammad Sami and Abdul Razzaq, could cause England’s batting problems.
“We have the ability to swing the ball and destroy any team in a couple of spells.
“Sami can swing the ball at 90mph, Razza can swing the ball, I can swing the ball. We work well as a unit.”—PPI
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