December 01, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1428

KOLKATA, Nov 30: Pakistan’s controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar, in a show of patriotism and high-class sportsmanship, offered on Friday to play the Kolkata Test against India despite not having fully recovered from chest congestion and body pain.

The fast bowler, who was hospitalized for two days and was only released on Wednesday, had missed the practice session on Thursday raising serious doubts over his availability in the second Test.

However, the 32-year-old paceman was included in the team on Friday which took everyone by surprise at the Eden Gardens but Shoaib said he only played because the match could decide the series.

“At the team meeting last night I took the decision to play since this is a do-or-die Test for us,” Shoaib told Dawn.

Shoaib, who bowled just nine overs in four spells on the first day, said it was a dilemma for him because people would have doubted his commitment in both the cases.

“Had I not played the Test, people would have doubted my commitment and now I have played despite not being fully recovered, people would still point a finger at me,” the fast bowler said.

“I have played for the sake of my team and country in a hope to avoid defeat in this Test and not to lose the series here. I couldn’t bowl at my best because of the after effects of illness, but there is no help for the seam bowlers in the pitch.”

Shoaib said the Pakistan batsmen will have to bat out of their skins to save this match as cracks have already surfaced at the square.

“We have to save this Test and then play to our best ability in the last Test to square the series. We have the potential to do that and I am hopeful that our batsmen will play up to their potential,” Shoaib added.