Shoaib promises India a fiery encounter

Never shy of throwing down a verbal gauntlet to the opposition, Shoaib Akhtar has warned that he would be at his fastest and most furious in the crucial Centurion game against arch-rivals India on Saturday.

With Pakistan having lost two matches, the fixture against India is too important for them, and winning more or less essential in order to qualify for the Super Sixes. Pakistan would still retain a slight chance of making the next round even if they lose, but that is a little far-fetched and dependent on other's largesse.

And despite their rather woeful batting form, Waqar Younis said here after a training session that he was confident that his side has what it takes to turn things around.

This is a promise that has remained unfulfilled on previous occasions in recent times. But against India it is different. The adrenalin runs high, and it is likely to ensure that the so far missing intensity is there.

"These last two matches are very crucial for us. And it has been a long time since we have played against India. When you play India, the hype is always there. We are all motivated to go into the match with the best we have got, and try the hardest we can. Insh'allah, we are going to achieve victory," said Shoaib.

On whether he would be targeting certain batsmen, Shoaib said: "Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are important wickets, but I'm targeting the whole Indian team and not any individual batsmen".

With the Centurion wicket hard and dry, and affording him more bounce and swing, would he be even more difficult than usual to counter?

"While the bounce would definitely be a help, and if there is movement one is likely to get snicks. But because I'm quick through the air, and home in on the stumps, and that is why a very high percentage of my wickets are either bowled or leg before, to me the surface really doesn't matter. But it surely looks like a good track."

On whether he would try to clock more than 100 mph again, he said that he had never aimed to bowl quick just to break records.

"I know I can bowl quicker than this [100 mph], something in the vicinity of above 165 kph. But I want to get five wickets and win the match for my team instead of bowling at 100 mph," he said, adding that after he went for so many runs against England "I was so unhappy with myself, I couldn't sleep that night."

But against India, he says he would love to bowl with a lot of fire.

"I'm again bowling quick with the old ball. That has come back to me, and that adds to my lethalness. Against India, I'm going to go after the bigger names, I'm not going to make it easy for them."

On whether he would like to exploit India's traditional vulnerability against pace, he conceded that it was easier to bowl against India than Australia, who are more used to batting against fast bowling on bouncy wickets. But he says that it is irrelevant who is against him if he bowls up to the standard that he sets for himself.

"If I run in well, if I've the rhythm, and I'm bowling quick and landing the ball in the right areas, that is my day, mate. Then I don't care who is at the other end, whether it is Ponting or Sachin."

He believes that he could have done better in the 2003 World Cup than his 10 wickets.

"I've struggled because I came from a seven-week break. But I'm getting it right now."

But he has succeeded in another, improbable area. He is leading the batting averages for Pakistan.

"Well, these days whenever I wake up in the morning, I look for my bat (laughs). But seriously, I'm very keen to bat well these days. I know I've the potential. And it is quite handy for the team if I contribute 20s or 30s."