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| May 15, 2008 | Thursday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 9, 1429 |
I have nothing to prove, says Shoaib
KOLKATA, May 14: After demolishing Delhi Daredevils with a tornado-like opening spell in his maiden Indian Premier League appearance, Shoaib Akhtar on Tuesday said that he had nothing to prove.
“I just wanted to win the game. I have no points to make to anybody,” the Rawalpindi Express said, minutes after finishing with amazing figures of 3-0-11-4 that wiped out the Delhi top-order and ensured a 23-run victory for Kolkata Knight Riders.
Shoaib thanked his team-mates, coach John Buchanan, skipper Saurav Ganguly and owner Shah Rukh Khan for their constant backing.
In an oblique reference to the controversy that dogged him for the last few months, Shoaib said: “I was stressed but put everything behind me.
“Sharing the dressing room with SRK and Saurav was fantastic. They backed me. And I am really happy to perform. They put faith in me. And I am happy to deliver.”
It was an emotional moment for Rawalpindi Express, one he had been waiting for a long time. After waiting in the sidelines for more than four months, Shoaib was out to prove a point, and he couldn’t have done it in a more spectacular style as he brought Delhi down with an inspired spell.
Visibly elated after his stupendous performance, Shoaib said: “For me, my team is the most important thing. Kolkata is my home team. Eden Gardens is my home ground.”
Criticised often for his attitude problems, Shoaib said: “Whenever I play I give 100 per cent.”
Praising Shoaib, Ganguly said: “He came to the country with lots [of things] happening behind him. But he showed a lot of character.”
Delhi captain Virender Sehwag, who became Shoaib’s first victim, also paid tributes to the fast bowler.
“This is the best spell of Twenty20 bowling I have seen. He is a great bowler,” Sehwag said.—Agencies
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