Iqbal speechless by Jaffer show

Faisal Iqbal said he was left speechless by the quality of Indian opener Wasim Jaffer's classy knock at the Eden Gardens.

Pakistan’s young middle order batsman Faisal Iqbal said he was left speechless by the quality of Indian opener Wasim Jaffer’s classy knock at the Eden Gardens.

“Wasim (192 not out) played really well. I am speechless. It was tremendous to watch him,” Iqbal said after the opening day’s play.

Iqbal, who made it to the final XI at the last minute due to skipper Shoaib Malik’s injury, said his side would try to bowl out India as early as possible by coming back with full force on Saturday.

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“Right now the idea is to get India out as cheaply as possible and if we can do that anything is possible in a Test match,” he said.

“The wicket behaves differently each day. We have to attack with full force tomorrow and get breakthroughs,” he added.

Asked if he was prepared to play today, Iqbal said, “I am always ready. I am mentally and physically ready.”

Iqbal, however, ducked a query about the team management’s decision to play pacer Shoaib Akhtar who could send down only nine overs.

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“It was the decision of the team management,” he said.

He also claimed that all the eleven members of the team were fit.

“All the 11 are fit now… For the last three-four days Akhtar was not fit, but the way he bowled today and the aggression he has showed is really remarkable.”