Shoaib Akhtar believes he has still to find his best form in the run-up to next year's World Cup after starring once more against England. 'The Rawalpindi Express' continued his impressive comeback to international cricket after six months out with an ankle injury by taking four for 28 as Pakistan beat England by seven wickets in the second one-dayer at Lord's.
England, as well as being 1-0 down in the five-match series, were left contemplating the worrying prospect that Akhtar was, in his own estimation, still only "80 percent fit". "I was just trying to bowl in the right areas, not go for wickets so much as dot balls," explained Akhtar after being named man-of-the-match in a clash where Pakistan dismissed England for 166 in a contest reduced to 40 overs per side before finishing on 169 for three with 20 balls to spare.
"I'm still only at 80 percent of my fitness so I've been a lucky guy to get a few wickets. Other people might say I'm match fit but my goals are really high."
This last week has seen a steady improvement from the paceman who returned to international duty with one for 31 in Pakistan's five-wicket Twenty20 win against England in Bristol on Monday and then took three for 45 in Wednesday's washed-out one-day series opener in Cardiff.
At Lord's on Saturday he routinely hit the 90mph mark and was accurate with it, striking sixth ball to have England captain Andrew Strauss caught behind for nought.
But the 31-year-old, who had Ian Bell caught at slip before coming back to flatten Rikki Clarke's stumps and knock over Darren Gough with a fiery yorker, said he was still some way off top speed.
"I'm still bowling, on average, at 90mph. I should be bowling at 94mph. I'm lacking match practice but in the next few games I think I should be there," he added ahead of Tuesday's day/night match at the Rose Bowl.
Akhtar was adamant that raw pace alone was not an over-riding concern.
"It's not a challenge for me to bowl at 100mph. It's not a competition about bowling at 94, 95mph, getting wickets is my main goal and always has been."
"I've always believed I've been a very accurate bowler. I've never been stupidly fast. I don't fancy bowling no-balls or wide balls after this long run-up," Akhtar also told reporters after a return of 8-0-28-4. There was one worrying moment for Pakistan when Akhtar slipped in the field.
"When you are playing for your country you don't think about getting injured when diving in the field," Akhtar said.
"I'm a guy who likes to give 100 percent. I love going all out for my country. That's what I've been doing for the last 10 years."
Pakistan look to be well-equipped in their quest to win what would be their second World Cup crown when the tournament takes place in the Caribbean next year, having previously triumphed in Australia in 1992.
Their batting line-up features the likes of captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and the hard-hitting Shahid Afridi.
As well as Akhtar, they have pace threat in Mohammad Asif, Rana Naved and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq as well as spin options in Afridi, Danish Kaneria and Mohammad Hafeez.
However, they were without Akhtar, Naved (groin) and opening batsman Shoaib Malik (elbow) for the whole of their recent 3-0 Test series reverse in England.
Asif only returned from an elbow injury during the tourists' controversial fourth Test forfeit at The Oval. But the 23-year-old lived to the 'young Glenn McGrath tag' given him by vice-captain Younis Khan by lighting up a gloomy Lord's with two for 10 from eight overs.
However, Akhtar said comparisons between himself and Asif with the 1990s Pakistan new-ball duo of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram were off target.
"They (Waqar and Wasim) were two great fast bowlers. I'm nowhere close to them and nor is Asif. "But we certainly can try. We are a good pairing. He (Asif) can swing the ball around and I can go at it with a litle bit of extra pace. Asif is a great asset for our country."
Asked to asses Pakistan's World Cup chances, Akhtar replied: "We are just going to try to win it.
"We are not being big-headed, saying 'we definitely will win it'. But we have a great unit."
However, he said the biggest plus point for Pakistan right now was the supportive dressing-room environment created by Inzamam.
"We are 11 different people but we like to get on with each other and help each other. That's the culture we've developed and that's thanks to Inzi."
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