Playing Akhtar may cost Pak dear

That ice-box has never been put to more use — it acted as a stool for Shoaib Akhtar...

That ice-box has never been put to more use — it acted as a stool for Shoaib Akhtar at Eden Gardens today. The Pakistan pacer — looking extremely under the weather — often sat on it outside the boundary as Indian batsmen plundered the Pakistan attack on the first day of the second Test.

Pakistan decided to play Akhtar, despite the fact that the ace pacer had not recovered from viral fever and chest infection.

It may have been a heroic decision on Akhtar’s part, but in hindsight his bravado can only be termed as foolishness. He bowled well below his pace, hardly able to jog on his run-up. He bowled only nine out of the total of 84.3 overs bowled today and the team is left with little option to counter the Indian batting. His final figures of 9-1-29-0 evoked more sympathy than admiration.

According to sources, Akhtar played as he thought if he didn’t play in this crucial Test his commitment would be questioned.

Akhtar had a relapse of fever last evening, just 24 hours after he came out of hospital. And, according to team sources, he had hoped to get at least a day’s rest. But, Pakistan lost the toss and Akhtar had to be immediately pressed into action.

Struggling to remain on field and finding it difficult to breathe during his run up, Akhtar went out three times during the day’s play, after he lay down on the ground after his two-over second spell. Akhtar bowled four spells — of 4, 2, 2, and 1 overs — and had to decline to get into the action as Sourav Ganguly walked in. His fielding was non-existent. If India do not need to bat again, and it’s unlikely that Akhtar would be completely fit tomorrow, then the whole idea of playing an unfit player — no matter how big a star — may just cost Pakistan very dear.