‘Pakistan bowlers should go for wickets against SA, India’

Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar Monday advised Pakistan bowlers to be aggressive and go for wickets in their group matches against South Africa and India to remain in contention for a knock-out berth in the ongoing Champions Trophy in the UK.

'Both teams (South Africa and India) have strong batting line-ups, so our bowlers should not be thinking of containing them but about getting wickets,' Akhtar said.

'South Africa is struggling with injuries to their top pace bowlers. Pakistan must try to take advantage of this,' he said. 

Pakistan have to beat South Africa tomorrow to stay in contention for a semifinal spot after they lost a close encounter to the West Indies. They play India in their final group match on June 15. He felt that Junaid Khan needed to step up his game as he was the key to Pakistan’s success.

'Junaid would be the most effective bowler on the English tracks and he has to exploit the conditions. Against the West Indies, Muhammad Irfan made an impact. England is a great place to make an impact. I remember I bowled well in 1999 World Cup and then progressed rapidly after that,' he said. 

Akhtar said captain Misbah-ul-Haq should use spinners Saeed Ajmal and Muhammad Hafeez soon if 

the pacers don’t get breakthroughs quickly as that’s Pakistan’s strength.