Shoaib to make India tour a memorable one

Lahore, Oct 28 (UNI) Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will be bowling at full throtle in the forthcoming tour to India and will like to do ''something special for the fans'' so that they remember him.

''I promise that I will do my best and give my full effort on the tour of India to help my team win both the one-dayer and Test series,'' Akhtar said.

The 32-year-old was recalled for possibly his last tour of India after he served a ban of 13 international matches, a punishment primarily for hitting teammate and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif on the thigh with a bat last month. He was also fined 3.4 million rupees.

He was placed on probation for two years, which means he could be banned for life if he again breaches the players' code of conduct.

Shoaib opined that his career was back on track after the Asif episode, which he described as something he would rather forget.

''What I did was silly and happened in a fit of anger,'' he said.

''I apologised to Asif, to the team players and to all my countrymen and now I hope that my career will not suffer again.

''I have missed a lot of cricket due to injuries and other reasons, but now I want to focus on my game and do my best for the country,'' Shoaib was quoted as saying by 'The News'.

Despite the intense rivalry between the two arch-rivals, Shoaib said he respected Indian Team and is looking forward to the tour.

''This may be my last tour so I must do something special for the fans in India so that they remember me in a good way,'' he said.

The Rawalpindi express, as a newcomer to the Pakistan team, way back in 1999, took eight wickets in the Asian Test championship match at Kolkata -- including the prize scalp of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid off successive deliveries.

''Those were the golden moments of my career and I still want to get Tendulkar and Dravid's wickets because they are special players,'' Shoaib said.

Shoaib said both the one-day and Test series will be exciting.

''Since our pace attack is better than theirs I feel the balance is tilted towards Pakistan and if we bat well then we can return as winners.'' Pakistan leave for New Delhi on November 1 and will play the first of five ODI's at Guwahati on November 5. It will be followed by three Tests in New Delhi, Calcutta and Bangalore.

UNI