Pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar on Sunday said that he was confident Pakistan would progress swiftly under new coach Geoff Lawson, who he says wants to inject aggression into the troubled side. The former Australian fast bowler arrived here last week to replace Bob Woolmer, who died during Pakistan's flopped World Cup campaign in Jamaica.
"Of course Lawson has made a swift impact. He is a thinking coach and the team in general, and fast bowlers in particular, are benefiting," Akhtar told. Pakistan's 15-man squad completed a tune-up camp on Sunday to wrap up preparations for next month's inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.
Akhtar, 32, said player energy levels have increased. "Lawson's policies are aggressive and he always thinks and preaches for a win," Akhtar said.
The injury-plagued Akhtar, who has played just four one-day matches and two Tests in the last 19 months, is confident of improving his fitness under Lawson and Pakistan's new trainer, fellow Australian David Dwyer.
"I know he will come down very hard on me and has instructed the trainer to make a special programme for me which includes the diet, my sleep and about how can I keep my fitness," said Akhtar, who had twin knee operations last year.
He was also involved in a doping scandal after he and fellow paceman Mohammad Asif tested positive for banned steroid nandrolone last year. Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year, but the bans were overturned.
Akhtar missed the World Cup in the Caribbean due to knee injury and his comeback was delayed after Pakistan's two one-day matches against Scotland and India were washed out last month. The mercurial paceman believed Pakistan will have to play aggressive cricket to succeed in the Twenty20 World Cup.
"I am hopeful that this team can achieve the best results," he said.
"But we are focussed for not only Twenty20 cricket but also for the important Test series against South Africa, India and Australia," said Akhtar. Pakistan encounters these three series in the next seven months. Pakistan fly out to Kenya on August 30 for a warm-up tournament before going to South Africa.