Shoaib promises to play for four more years

Lahore, Sep 20 (UNI) With things getting better in his cricketing career, controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar stated that he still has altleast four more years of international cricket left in him.

''I am going to bowl again and I am going to play again for four years and show everyone how good I am,'' the speedster said.

The 33-year-old, who was included in the Twenty20 domestic and 20-man squad for the four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Canada, scheduled to be held next month, is hoping for a better relation with the new set-up of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that takes over from the one led by Nasim Ashraf.

''You know how things work in our cricket system. But now there is going to be a new cricket leadership and we will have better cricket brains running cricket in Pakistan that will look after our interests,'' Shoaib told 'Sky Sports'.

''We have been assured that we can just go and play and they will look after matters off the field. That is important for the Pakistan cricket side so that they can play the best they can,'' the burly bowler added.

In March, Shoaib was banned for five years for violating players' code of conduct while on a two-year probation for good behaviour imposed in 2007.

However, the ban was reduced to 18 months but imposed a fine of Rs seven million by an appellate tribunal after an appeal.

Shoaib, while exuding confidence, said despite these problems he would force his way back into the national side.

''Trouble comes and goes over your career. You are put through certain situations in your life that you have to get through to become a better person,'' he said.

''I have been through those situations and I have learned a lot,'' the Rawalpindi Express added.

UNI XC PY RAR CS1240