When Azhar pulled out of some matches due to a sore shoulder, Wasim Akram was quick to recommend a doctor. ``The best man in the business,'' he told the Indian captain, ``was Ian Bailey in London. He is an expert, the last word in shoulder rehabilitation, but the snag is he is too busy - normal time for getting an appointment, unless you have a strong sifarish, is about one year.''Akram swears by Bailey because he got him quickly back on the road when an injury threatened his career. ``I underwent surgery but more important than the operation,'' says Akram."I was the next exercise schedule he put me through. Within days of the operation, an elastic strap was put around my shoulder which I was supposed to gently pull all the time. "This strengthened my muscles gradually without strain and I regained power in the shoulder. I feel if I had gone to anyone else, my recovery would not have been as good. Maybe, I would not be playing today.''If there's a vote to decide the world's quickest bowler,Saurav Ganguly would unhesitatingly choose Shoaib Akhtar. ``There is no doubt in my mind,'' says Ganguly, ``He is a yard faster than anyone else, and I have faced Donald and Pollock in South Africa.'' Ganguly, an opener in One-Dayers is looking for the frontfoot strike through covers but Akhtar's red hot pace makes that shot extremely difficult for three reasons; he is quick, the ball isn't pitched up for the drive and there is no width. for a bowler of his pace, and someone who runs in from behind the 30-yard circle, Akhtar is surprisingly accurate. Ijaz Ahmed was a member of Imran Khan's '92 World Cup-winning team but over the years his role in the Pakistani squad has changed dramatically. Though initially picked as a specialist batsman, Ijaz hardly got a decent chance to put bat to ball in eight games in Australia he faced a total of 13, yes 13, deliveries! In the final, Ijaz was slotted in at number 10, while Imran went in one down. Ijaz also bowled left arm medium fast but his chief asset wasfielding. At the crucial point position, he was stunningly effective. Presently, Ijaz is a key batsman. He bats up in the order and is widely respected as a dangerous player who, on his day,, can be ruthlessly murderous. Anything remotely short is promptly punished, Ijaz loves shots square of the wicket and has the capacity and the experience to structure a match-winning innings.His bowling has slackened after a shoulder injury but he is still keen on a few overs of orthodox spin, now that the team lacks a specialist left armer. Yet, Ijaz's worth in the field has not dimmed.
