It was my decision to play in second Test: Akhtar

KOLKATA: 'Rawalpindi Express' Shoaib Akhtar, who was hospitalised with a chest infection three days before the start of the Kolkata Test against India, said there was no pressure on him from the Pakistan team management to play in the match.

"It was my decision to play. After all, this Test is crucial for us. There was no pressure on me from the team management," the  fast-bowler said.

Akhtar seemed unfit, especially on the opening day of the match on Friday, as he could bowl only nine overs in short spells with a curtailed run-up.

There were reports that Akhtar had been forced to play the match by the selectors and the team management.

Akhtar said he was still suffering, though the fever and cough had reduced.

"I am still suffering. When I was admitted to hospital I had 102 degree fever. My fever kept on coming back. I was shivering. I had cough also. I couldn't breathe normally".

"In the hospital, I was administered three to four drips and given four injections," he said while interacting with the media.

Akhtar said when he took the field on Friday, he had a splitting headache.
   
"My head was reeling so much that I couldn't see anything," he said.
   
Akhtar had fallen sick on the fourth day of the first Test in Delhi and spent one and half days at a private hospital here.

Akhtar remembered his first visit here to play the Asian Test Championship in 1999 and conceded that compared to that team, the present side was weak.
   
"Our problem in this tour is we've not been able to perform. We had lost opportunities in the ODI series as also in the first Test. And it is always difficult to come back".

Asked to comment on Pakistan's Aussie coach Geoff Lawson, Akhtar said, "He is a good man".

He did not agree that the Pakistan side was lacking in aggression.

"Didn't you see our aggression in the Delhi Test?" he asked.

Asked why he was always surrounded by controversies, Akhtar said, "For my country, I endured monetary losses, I played even when I was unfit. And after all this, I think it is meaningless to raise these kind of questions".
   
Recalling the 1999 match when he had replaced legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis, Akhtar said he had got the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar of the first ball before getting rid of Rahul Dravid.

Akhtar described Eden as one of his favourite grounds.
   
On Sourav Ganguly's hundred on Saturday, Akhtar said "Dada to Dada hai. Scoring a hundred before your own people is a great thing".

He also praised Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul Haq who struck centuries to put on 207 runs for the sixth wicket.

"They played tremendous innings. Misbah is a good player and has it in him to fill the void created by Inzamam-ul Haq's retirement," Akhtar added.