By IANS
New Delhi : Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) President Naseem Ashraf Wednesday gave a clean chit to the team’s pace spearhead Shoaib Akhtar, saying the team manager was “very happy” with his behaviour.
Ashraf, who is here to watch the first India-Pakistan Test starting here Thursday, said that Akhtar, who often hogs headlines for his off-field activities, is an “asset” to the team.
“We have a team manager (Talat Ali) and he is very happy with Shoaib’s behaviour,” Ashraf told reporters at Ferozeshah Kotla, venue of the match.
Pakistani team coach Geoff Lawson daid on arrival here that he was surprised to see Akhtar’s short hairstyle at the Lahore airport Nov 1 on way to Delhi. The former Australia fast bowler said his new hairstyle was a good indication of his behaviour.
“Shoaib is an asset to the team. He has been behaving well. We have no concern about his behaviour,” Ashraf told reporters.
Ashraf also said that the oft-postponed Asia Cup would be held in Pakistan, but not in April as was originally scheduled by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
“The tournament would now be held in June next year,” he said.
The ninth edition of the biennial Asia Cup has been postponed several times for various reasons. This time it was postponed because of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is likely to take place sometime in April.
IPL, which has the backing of all 10 Test playing countries, will have many current players of different nations for playing Twenty20 matches with loads of prize money to be won.