Akram hits out at bowlers for not taking 'bowl out' seriously

Lahore, Sep 18 (UNI) Mercurial fast bowler Wasim Akram has hit out at Pakistan bowlers for not taking the 'bowl out' seriously enough against arch-rival India in the league match of the Twenty20 World Cup.

Akram, who has the rare distinction of being the highest wicket taker for Pakistan in both forms of the game, said,''It was sad to see that our bowlers didn't take the 'bowl out' seriously.

''It was disappointing to see none of our bowlers could hit the target although we played well on the field. I don't know why the pacers opted to bowl off a short run-up, it spoilt their rhythm,'' he opined.

The 41-year-old also expressed his fear that the new format of the game (Twenty20) would eventually unsurp the popularity of the one-day game and it would badly affect the future of the game.

''I fear for the future of 50-over internationals because people now don't have much time to watch cricket for a full-day.

''In Twenty20 cricket they get to watch a lot of exciting cricket in three to four hours. It is an ideal format for them,'' he was quoted as saying by 'The News' The left-arm pacer also rubbished reports in the media about him undergoing a rehabilitation programme in a London hospital for a drugs related problem.

Akram said he was under treatment in a hospital but not for any drug related issue but for his acute sugar problem.

''Diabetics is not a new illness for me. I have played years of international cricket with it. But it got a bit out of hand and I had to seek treatment.'' UNI