Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar warned England on Friday that he will get faster and stronger after making a three-wicket return following a six-month absence from one-day international cricket.
"I know I can get better and faster. I just hope to stay fit - and by the time of the Champions Trophy (in October in India) I should be at my peak," the 31-year-old told www.bigstarcricket.com ahead of the second one-dayer against England at Lord's on Saturday.
Shoaib, sorely missed by Pakistan in their 3-0 Test series defeat by England, was back in action in the rain-ruined match in Cardiff on Wednesday taking three for 45. "It's my rhythm that concerns me most, and I was pleased that it felt good. The fact my speeds were getting up towards the middle 90s on some deliveries shows that I haven't lost the ability to bowl fast while I've been out!
"As any fast bowler knows, the better your rhythm, the quicker you bowl. "The team is playing some really good one-day cricket, and I think the only way we will lose this series is if we become complacent. "If we all stay focused and play to our ability we will take some beating - because we have a lethal combination. I don't mean any disrespect to England - they have some dangerous players also - but I just think we have the advantage with experience and ability."
Shoaib looked impressive in Cardiff where he and new-ball partner Mohammad Asif made life tough for England's batsman. "It's nice to finally be back in international cricket after all those months on the sidelines," he said. "The Cardiff match was a nice comeback - but it's only the start."
Shoaib, Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan were all playing just their second international match - the first was Monday's Twenty20 against England at Bristol - since their respective injury troubles. The hosts therefore got an idea of the pace-bowling firepower Pakistan were lacking in the recently-concluded Test series. "The first one-dayer at Cardiff was always going to be a harder test for me, but it was exactly what I needed," added Shoaib.
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