Shoaib Akhtar boxes as he trains during a practice session ahead of the semifinal match against India in Mohali.—AP Dawn News Updates
MOHALI: Paceman Shoaib Akhtar is unlikely to play in Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal against archrival India, according to a source close to the Pakistan team.
Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi raised expectations of a return for Akhtar when he said he knew the bowler wasn’t fully fit, but would to have him in the lineup to offer something different against the powerful Indian batsman.
But a source, who was not authorized to comment to media, told The Associated Press late Tuesday that Pakistan team management was not in favor of disturbing a winning combination.The 35-year-old Akhtar has already announced he’ll retire from international cricket after the World Cup, but has not played in four of the seven matches in the tournament.In his absence, Pakistan has defeated Zimbabwe, handed three-time champion Australia its first World Cup loss since 1999 and also thrashed the West Indies by 10 wickets in the quarterfinals.”The only likely change (for semifinal) from the quarterfinal team is that leftarm spinner Abdur Rehman might come in place of offspinner Saeed Ajmal,” the source told AP.
Several former Pakistan players have called for Akhtar to be reinstated in a bid to unsettle India’s batsmen, who are comfortable playing spin but could be vulnerable against all-out pace.
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