Australia easier to beat now : Akhtar
Thursday, 26 March 2009
KARACHI, Mar 25: A fit-again Shoaib Akhtar said today that Pakistan can beat Australia in next month's limited overs series, predicting the world champions are less of a threat than in the past.
"Australia are now much easier to beat than before and if we play our best we can beat them in the series," Akhtar told the AFP.
"We have a very good chance of beating them."
Pakistan plays Australia in five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from April 22 to May 7.
Akhtar said Australia had lost some key players, which had weakened them.
"They are still the world's top team, which they proved by avenging their defeat against South Africa," he said of Australia's 2-1 series win over tSouth Africa this week.
"But they still miss the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne who were top class players. If even one of them came to the party, it spelt doom for the rival team.
"Australia now doesn't have as many quality players as in the past. They were beaten by South Africa in the one-day series in Australia and judging by their strength in one-dayers I think we can beat them."
Akhtar added that he always wanted to do well against Australia.
"Australia are now much easier to beat than before and if we play our best we can beat them in the series," Akhtar told the AFP.
"We have a very good chance of beating them."
Pakistan plays Australia in five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from April 22 to May 7.
Akhtar said Australia had lost some key players, which had weakened them.
"They are still the world's top team, which they proved by avenging their defeat against South Africa," he said of Australia's 2-1 series win over tSouth Africa this week.
"But they still miss the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne who were top class players. If even one of them came to the party, it spelt doom for the rival team.
"Australia now doesn't have as many quality players as in the past. They were beaten by South Africa in the one-day series in Australia and judging by their strength in one-dayers I think we can beat them."
Akhtar added that he always wanted to do well against Australia.