Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib AkhtarPakistan fast bowler Umar Gul said Shoaib Akhtar should be recalled for the World Cup semi-final against India.
Paceman Shoaib was dropped after going for 70 runs in the loss to New Zealand and did not feature in the wins over Zimbabwe, Australia and West Indies.
"Shoaib Akhtar is an experienced bowler who has performed well against India," said Gul. "If he plays [on Wednesday] it will take some pressure off me."
Shoaib, 35, announced last week that he would retire after the World Cup.
Although Pakistan have been victorious since Shoaib was left out, his replacement Wahab Riaz has struggled to make an impact on the tournament.
Gul's call for Shoaib's return follows a similar plea from former captain Imran Khan, who said Shoaib's pace and aggression could trouble India's star-studded batting order.
Shoaib has taken 41 wickets in 28 one-day matches against India at an average of 26.78 and is three wickets short of the 250 mark overall.
In announcing his retirement on 17 March, he said he hoped his final game for Pakistan would be the World Cup final on 2 April.
To reach that match, Pakistan will have to beat their arch-rivals in Mohali.
It will be Pakistan's first cricket match in India since before the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, in which 166 people died - an atrocity which has been blamed on Pakistan-based extremists.
Gul, who has 14 wickets at an average of 14.50 at the tournament, said: "In both countries people want to see the teams play each other.
"Relations will be better if the teams play each other more often. Fans can't stand defeat but we have won six of seven matches so far and hope to play our best cricket against India."
