Shoaib Akhtar and team ethics

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Has the team management given in to the prima donna, or is this a genuine change of strategy?

It's got a whiff of both. Firstly I'm surprised that Shoaib is fit to play if he had a hamstring niggle which i think was just a smokescreen. Shoaib bowled a very good opening spell of 4 overs for 11 runs, and could have easily got at least one wicket with Jayasuriya being put down off a sharp chance at 1st slip.

I think the management probably felt that might as well give him the new ball if it keeps him happy and use Sami at first change. It does make sense in that Sami hasn't looked particularly dangerous with the new ball in any case, and he has a far better attitude to bowling first change.