Pakistan captain backs Shoaib to simply succeed

Younus Khan believes Shoaib Akhtar needs to continue playing his natural game after the fast bowler's return in Dubai.

The Pakistan captain Younus Khan believes Shoaib Akhtar needs to continue playing his natural game after the controversial fast bowler's return in the opening one-day international victory over Australia. Shoaib recovered from a knee injury to feature in the series and had not played a one-day international since January. Added to a history of disciplinary problems, the bowler, also known as the Rawalpindi Express, has had limited appearances in Pakistan green in recent times.

Despite being 33 and with his best days probably behind him, he remains one of Pakistan cricket's poster boys, and fans remain as hungry as ever for a sight of the flamboyant paceman sending stumps cartwheeling. At Dubai Sports City, yesterday, Shoaib an early rhythm, bowling in the region of 145kph with the wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal receiving the ball at shoulder height and caused the openers Shaun Marsh and Brad Haddin a few problems.

Although he fell away to finish with none for 35 from six overs, Younus was delighted with Shoaib's reaction to his eagerly anticipated return, and believes the key for the quick bowler is to keep it simple. Younus said: "Shoaib has had some fitness problems in the past but at the moment I think he should just come and bowl and do nothing silly and it was fantastic. His first five overs in particular he responded very well. Before the series when I talked about him I said he should just come and play and it was shown like that."

Pakistan won the match by four wickets after dismissing the tourists for 168 in 39.5 overs. Although the spin of Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal did most of the damage, with eight wickets between them, the return of Shoaib to the Pakistan starting line-up was eagerly anticipated. Shoaib opened the bowling with Umar Gul and the pair kept the Australians to reasonable 49 for one at the end of the first ten overs.

Younus said: "It was a very good effort from the bowlers especially from the fast bowlers. They didn't give any easy runs to the batsmen. Batsmen like Marsh and Haddin are batsmen that like to get on top of the bowlers but Shoaib and Gul did a good job for us." While Shoaib was overshadowed by the six wickets and cameo innings of another Pakistan fans' favourite Shahid "Boom Boom" Afridi, it was a solid return for a fast bowler on his road to recovery, and there is no need to chase the headlines just yet, it is likely they will find him again soon enough.