Former fast bowler Shoaib hopes Pakistan to deliver winning performance against Australia in Tests

Mohammad Abdullah, Senior Sports Reporter

Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar hoped that the Pakistan cricket team can break the 28-year long jinx of losing Test matches in Australia. A new-look Pakistan team is on the tour of Australia, where they will play three Test matches, starting from Dec.14.

“I wish all the best to the Pakistan team and hope that they can end the streak of losing Test matches on Australian soil,” said Shoaib, who is also known as Rawalpindi Express because of his tormenting pace.

Shoaib still holds the record for bowling the fastest delivery ever in any format of the game almost 12 years after his retirement. Akhtar retired from international cricket after playing his last match for Pakistan during the group stages against New Zealand in the ICC World Cup 2011.

In his Test career, he scalped 178 wickets in 46 matches which included 12 five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket hauls. Pakistan have not won any Test match in Australia since 1995. It will be a big challenge for Shan Masood-led Pakistan to break the jinx of not winning a single Test in 28 years.

“What we could not do, I hope they can. But with this kind of bowling attack, it will be a herculean task for Pakistan to beat Australia.

“But, the then Australian batting line-up boasted of players like Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Mathew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Micheal Bevan.

“They were all great batsmen. So it was altogether a different ball game. I wish all the best to the Pakistan team to  win not only a Test match but also the series,” added Shoaib.

Pakistan bowling attack will be the main concern on the Australian bouncy pitches. Their strength has always been their bowling. Which is missing of late.

Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has not looked the same since returning from a knee injury. He is not as lethal without bowling partner Naseem Shah, who is recovering from a shoulder injury.

Pakistan has an option in the form of Haris Rauf but he declined an offer to be part of the Test squad and preferred to play in Australia's franchise-based Big Bash.

Pakistan cricket is going through a turmoil and that is likely to add extra pressure on Masood. After the World Cup debacle, wholesale changes were made to the squad.

Following the fiasco, Babr Azam was removed from the captaincy and chief selector Inzamam ul Haq had to quit. Shoaib, who is also the brand ambassador of ILT20, was speaking on the sidelines of UAE and Sri Lanka U-19 Asia Cup match.

“I think it is a great tournament and it will help cricket grow in the UAE. These guys have worked really hard to develop cricket in this region. T20 leagues around the world are a good platform to showcase the talent. But to be a Test or an ODI bowler, youngsters should learn to bowl long spells

“Bowling in the shorter formats like T10 and T20 will not help the cause. They will have to get used to bowling 20-30 overs in a day if needed in a Test match.

“With the advent of shorter formats and private cricket leagues, the existence of other formats like ODIs and Test matches are facing a threat. I fear the most for the ODIs that may become a thing of the past in future especially since India lost the World Cup final.”

Meanwhile, the DP World International League T20 has received a major boost as the International Cricket Council has awarded it the prestigious List A status.

This means that the tournament will be recognised as an official T20 tournament – all tournament statistics will be recognised as official T20 statistics. The List A status will be in place from Season 2 which begins next month.  The DP World ILT20 is the first ICC Associate Member league to have received the recognition.

Shoaib was speaking on the sidelines of the Sri Lanka and UAE U19 AsiaCup match. Which was being played at the ICC Academy. He also imparted the valuable tips to the UAE colts after the match and wished them all the best for the tournament.

UAE defeated Sri Lanka by two wickets with 10 balls remaining. After restricting Lanka to 220/9, UAE chased down the target for the loss of eight wickets. Captain Ayan Afzal Khan played a responsible innings of 33 runs after Tanish Suri set the tone  for a successful chase with 88-ball 75.