FAISALABAD, Oct 21: Pakistan pace ace Shoaib Akhtar said on Thursday that he was a team man and that he did not mind bowling first or second change.

"Of course I love to bowl with the new ball, it's pleasurable and it's nice," Shoaib, 28, told reporters after claiming his ninth five-wicket haul in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

"Sometimes you have to do it for your team. If the captain asks you to bowl first or second change I am ready to do it, if it's good for the team," said the tearaway bowler who has now raised his tally of Test wickets to 130.

"I am more effective with the new ball," said Shoaib, playing in his 33rd Test match. Shoaib was given the new ball only twice in five One-day internationals of the triangular series which Sri Lanka won in Lahore last week.

He praised Samaraweera, who scored his fourth Test century. "He played well, was vulnerable in the beginning but the conditions were very suitable for the batsmen, the credit goes to him."

"I am glad that I got my rhythm back in Test matches because there are lots of opportunities," he said and added not to expect electrifying pace each time he went out to bowl. "You can't bowl fast every day."

Shoaib, who was batting on six along with Muhammad Sami on two hoped that the two of them would be able to add some runs to enhance the lead.

"There are still three more days to go in the match and we will try to get a lead of 80 to 90 runs," he said.