Akhtar’s change of pace: I have matured

Describing himself as a “wise” and more matured cricketer now, Pakistan’s tearway fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is willing to tak...

Describing himself as a “wise” and more matured cricketer now, Pakistan’s tearway fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is willing to take up the mantle of captaincy if the opportunity came his way.

“If it (the captaincy) will come to me. I know that I am capable of leading the Pakistan team.” He said.

Akhtar, who is currently taking part in the ICC Champions Trophy in Colombo, said that he had no intention of “running for it”. “Whenever the captaincy comes to me, in one year’s time or six months, I want to be in control of the team. I want to serve the country and make sure that I leave my name in the book of history forever.”

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Akhtar said he did not want to merely be a great bowler or a selfish captain, but a great servant of the country. “I’ll prove that I am a great leader of men when the time comes.”

The fast bowler, who had called himself a “wild horse” in the early years of his career, said “I’m not a wild horse anymore. I am wise now. I am a good boy.”

“Those who know me as a person know that I am a simple guy. It is hard to promote myself as a good guy on the television or on paper. I just want to lead my life just by myself instead of running after newspapers and convincing them that I am a nice guy,” he was quoted as saying in local daily The News.

Contending that the race with Brett Lee for the title of fastest bowler is over, Akhtar said he had already proved himself as the fastest in the world.

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“I bowled the fastest ball against New Zealand in Pakistan and proved to everyone that I am the best. In 1999 I was the fastest bowler, Brett was nowhere near my pace.”

He, however, hastened to add that he wanted to be the greatest bowler and not the fastest, and wanted to be remembered as a bowler who was known to have a clever head and a brave heart.