ICC killing fast bowlers: Shoaib

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">MUMBAI: The swagger’s back. Gone is the limp, which he had in Rawalpindi. Gone is the bandage, which protected his left hand. Gone is the dejection after the drubbing at the hands of India in his hometown Rawalpindi. Yep! Mumbai does that to people and Shoaib Akhtar has hit town. The black sweatshirt and faded denims coupled with a swanky pair of black boots only add to his ‘‘Look at me, I’m so cool’’ demeanour.<br /><br />In the city to shoot for a commercial for a leading motorcycle company, Shoaib is on a ‘‘Lemme enjoy myself’’ trip.Maybe that’s the reason why he uses his enviable soccer skills and does a neat job of dodging the media for a good two hours. Eventually he relents. His soccer skills metamorphose into cricket skills and the media is castled by a yorker. ‘‘No controversial questions on cricket,’’ his agent informs us.<br /><br />For the journos itching to ask Shoaib about the pow vow between him and Inzy and the news that he won’t accompany the team to play against Sri Lanka in Malaysia, it is like getting run out without facing a ball. So we ask him about his plans in Mumbai apart from his commercial activities.<br /><br /> ‘‘I love Mumbai. I have decided to extend my stay here and do some social work and visit some cancer patients and play with the kids there.’’ See. Whoever said fast bowlers are mean machines who need to go and see a shrink.<br /><br />That Shoaib is quite a pin up boy is well documented. The young female faces squealing in the background reaffirm that. Talking of pin up boys, how can we not ask him about India’s latest pin up Irfan Pathan? <br /><br />‘‘Gosh he’s got some talent that boy,’’ exclaims the speedster. ‘‘But why are you guys over-bowling him. Ganguly and India should use him as a strike bowler and not a stock bowler. I don’t think he can carry on for more than two years if he is made to slog like this.’’ Ah, now we are talking cricket.<br /><br />Talking on the plight of fast bowlers, Shoaib asked, ‘‘Do you see any batsmen getting injured? It’s always the fast bowlers. Be it Shane Bond, Brett Lee or me. The ICC is making us play far too much cricket. May be they don’t want fast bowlers. If that happens I’m sure there are many batsmen who will sleep peacefully.’’<br /><br />Like Sachin, Lara? ‘‘No, no. They can play anyone. Both are greats,’’ he adds as swiftly as his lightening quick deliveries.<br /><br />The enigmatic bowler also delivered a few barbs at his skipper Inzamam-ul Haq without naming him. ‘‘Fitness comes only when you work in the gym and not when you bowl 50 overs in the nets.’’ Boy they surely love each other a lot.<br /><br />Talk about love, Shoaib is certainly loved by one and all. Soon after his chat with the media, he is mobbed by people at the hotel lobby. A middle-aged woman strikes a pose with him. That done a boy of about four leaps into Shoaib’s arms and shakes hands. Well. He is not that bad after all. Wonder if Inzy and co. agree?<br /><br /><formid=367815></formid=367815></div> </div>