
Shoaib Akhtar is not just quick with the ball in hand, but also with the ball at his feet. The speed with which he can dribble and tackle with the football has to be seen to be believed. And then there8217;s that trademark bird-like celebration on scoring. Akhtar is just one of the 8220;bizarre stars8221; of Pakistan8217;s newly formed 8216;football team8217;; others include Shahid Afridi, Abdur Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum.
This cricket team has picked up a fetish for football, hooked on to it since the World Cup in Germany. They have been at it during their practice sessions 8212; beginning and ending with a game and even engaging in a friendly half-an-hour match against Ajay Jadeja XI. But in real terms, football is what volleyball is to Team India.
Coach Bob Woolmer, whistle in hand, says: 8220;It8217;s a nice way to relax and helps the boys to keep their mind off cricket and at the same time helps them keep agile. The boys enjoy it a lot, we try and not to tackle too much.8221;
There8217;s no particular formation, and most of them attack the ball with child-like enthusiasm, but Woolmer picks out Afridi and Razzaq as key men in their defence. 8220;We have a few stars like Akhtar, he8217;s really good upfront and we have some disastrous stars in Waqar Younis. But frankly, we have two solid men at the back in Afridi and Razzaq, fierce and quick,8221; he says.
Afridi takes his football seriously, ensuring that he kicks the ball in the right manner and doesn8217;t hit thoodas, practising and long passes well before the start.
The best attacking batsmen in the team 8212; Afridi and Razzaq are the best defenders in the football side. Akhtar and his new-ball partner Rana Naved ul Hasan do all the scoring!