Shoaib Akhtar is a changed man these days, so everybody says. The tiger in him seems to be tame now. He smiles more often, shakes hands, and probably is getting into his concentration programme with balancing acts and such. The Pakistan Cricket Board, with which he has had a running battle, also seems satisfied with his “behaviour”. That ‘change’ was evident today at nets. Even as he ran in to send in those near-100mph deliveries that are expected to make batsmen nervous from Thursday, one noticed this small soft toy — no wonder it is a tiger — on a stump by his side. Well? Shoaib says that it brings him luck. Hopefully.Sreesanth being missedAs the Indians sweated it out in practice at the Kotla, there was one man who stood far away from the hustle and bustle, giving tips to the young trainees of the DDCA. Sreesanth, suffering from a shoulder injury, did not bowl a single delivery today at nets, but gave the young DDCA pacers some useful advice on improving their bowling. He told them to start attending gym and also begin swimming if they wanted to improve their bowling. Sreesanth also met Mohammed Yousuf and when the Pakistani batsman asked why he wasn’t playing tomorrow, the Kerala bowler replied: “Kya karoon, last ball per dive mar diya aur injure ho gaya.” Yousuf said he would miss Sreesanth in the first Test.A nice shot from Sachin No one can ever resist the chance of having his or her picture taken, but one would think with all the attention they get, the cricketers are now used to being followed by hordes of photographers. But now and then even they don’t mind a nice shot of theirs being captured, and on Wednesday it was Sachin Tendulkar. While the press photographers were busy clicking the master, he momentarily froze in one batting stance and then looked at the cameramen nearby and said: “Did you get a nice shot?” Of course it was a nice shot.A hit in timeOne can never expect the Kotla wicket to be a bowler’s track. The frustration that bowlers generally face was made evident by speedster Shoaib Akhtar who, while crossing paths with Sourav Ganguly, exchanged light pleasantries accompanied by some mock punches aimed at the former India captain. And just as he was about to leave he said, “Sourav bhai abhi to main mar raha roon, baki panch din to aap hi maroge, aise pitch.”
