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The England skipper Andrew Strauss believes that speedster Shoaib Akhtar’s comeback has added another dimension to the Pakistani bowling attack.

Speaking after Shoaib’s explosive three-wicket haul in the first one-dayer at Sophia Gardens, Strauss admitted that Pakistan are now a much stronger side compared to their Test squad that suffered a 0-3 drubbing in the preceding series. “Shoaib is an effective bowler. Tonight, he was mostly bowling at 90 mph which made things tough for us,” said Strauss who fell cheaply to Mohammad Asif after Shoaib had unsettled him by hurling a few fast deliveries at him early in the England innings.

Shoaib missed the Tests earlier this summer because of an ankle stress fracture while Asif could just play in the final Test after recovering from an elbow problem.

Strauss admitted that the return of Shoaib and Asif together with another pacer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and opener Shoaib Malik has made Pakistan stronger. The Shoaib-Asif duo shared six wickets between them to wreck England for 202 before the match was abandoned because of inclement weather with Pakistan, needing 159 runs from 32 overs, at 46-1 in seven.

Strauss confessed England had little hopes of saving the match had weather not interrupted. He pointed out that England’s 202 were not enough to win the match against Pakistan who have a solid batting line-up. The Pakistanis are the favourites to win the one-day series though Strauss feels a good showing from his players can give them a chance in the five-match contest.

Meanwhile, England have decided against replacing injured pacer Steven Harmison for the remaining four matches of the one-day series. Harmison, who took 20 wickets in the Test series against Pakistan, was ruled out of the contest because of a nagging back problem.

England are expected to announce his replacement ahead of Saturday’s second ODI at Lord’s from their 30-man provisional squad selected for this fall’s Champions Trophy in India. However, England selectors have decided against bringing a new face in the squad, at least for the next one-dayer. “We will stick with the same squad certainly for the next game unless there are more injuries,” England team spokesman James Avery said.

Matthew Hoggard, a key member of England’s Test squad and pacer Graham Onions, who plays for Durham, were the top candidates had England decided to go for a replacement. The home team already has Darren Gough, Stuart Broad, Sajid Mahmood and Jon Lewis in their one-day squad.

Source:The News

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