& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

'I never enjoyed Shoaib's bowling'

BISHWAJIT ROY
When Bangladesh play their next series against Pakistan, the focus definitely will be on speedster Mashrafee-bin-Mortuza.
Dubbed the 'Narail Express' by the Australian press and public after the 19-year-old won over their hearts through his pace and aggression during Bangladesh's recent tour down under, Mashrafee has already earned the reputation as a fast bowler capable of worrying the best around the world.
Mashrafee may not still be among the fastest in business and he isn't interested either to be drawn into a personal battle with firebrand Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar. Nevertheless, the Narail quick is determined to make his presence felt during the three Tests and five one-day internationals in Pakistan.
"He is not my role model. I never enjoyed his (Shoaib) bowling. He may bowl faster than anybody else, but the quality and variation is more important for me," Mashrafee said
during an exclusive interview with the Daily Star Sport yesterday.
"Rather I will miss the great Wasim Akram during the tour," he said adding it would have been a massive education for him had the legendary left-arm paceman been around during the series.
"At the moment I am not thinking of bowling faster. My focus is on bringing more accuracy to my bowling like Glenn McGrath, whom I admire most. I'm bowling at 137 kmph on an average and I won't mind maintaining that speed in Pakistan," said Mashrafee whose fastest delivery in Australia was recorded at 143kmph.
"I found my natural rhythm in Australia, where I re-discovered my original run-up. Moreover, my inswingers are coming out quite well, " said Mashrafee whose natural delivery is the outswinger.
When asked about his target in Pakistan, Mashrafee said that he wanted to claim his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket there.
"It is a dream for any bowler to take five wickets and I will try my best to achieve the feat in Pakistan."
Mashrafee was aware that the conditions in Pakistan would be
totally different than what he had enjoyed on the lively Australian wickets but he believed that his Australian experience would help him and his team to do better in Pakistan.
"I think no team is comparable
with Australia at the moment, so Pakistan will be a relatively easier tour," he said.
Mashrafee, who has had an injury-plagued time since he walked into international cricket, said that
he was happy with his present fitness level and wants to stay that way.
"Injury has done me a lot of damage. I don't like to be sidelined," he said adding that he had learned some basic techniques to remain injury-free from the three master Australian pacemen.
"The Australians suggested me to carry on with my natural bowling and not try anything special in order to avoid unnecessary injury."
Mashrafee said the Australian experience was an eye-opener for him.
"There was an amazing contrast between the two sides of the world champions. The are tremendously aggressive on the field but off it there couldn't be kinder human beings," Mashrafee observed.
"I have learned many things from the tour about my bowling, especially how to bowl at the right places. Another important thing Bret Lee taught me was how to take advantage of the condition. He showed me how to use the wind to get swing in Cairns," he said.
"I enjoyed every bit of the
SEE PAGE 14 COL 1 FROM PAGE 13
Australian experience. The only regret was not getting the dream wicket of Australian Test captain (Steve Waugh). He was like an impregnable wall," Mashrafee said.
Mashrafee however enjoyed an amazing sequence of dismissing left-handers. His four wickets in two Tests were all southpaws -- Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Darren Lehman and Martin Love.
Mashrafee also claimed three wickets in the one-day series.