Pakistan cricket legend Javed Miandad feels captain Shahid Afridi's comment about aiming to make Sachin Tendulkar wait for his 100th international century shouldn't be made an issue
Pakistan cricket legend Javed Miandad feels captain Shahid Afridi's comment about aiming to make Sachin Tendulkar wait for his 100th international century shouldn't be made an issue.
"He (Tendulkar) will have to wait until after the World Cup to reach the landmark. We will try and make sure no batsman plays a long innings (in the semi-final at Mohali)," Afridi reportedly said recently.
"Don't take Afridi's comment too seriously. No captain or team will want runs scored off them. Every team has its strategy after all and Pakistan will try their best to restrict batsmen like Tendulkar," said Miandad, who figured in six World Cups (1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1996).
He resisted from getting into the merits of each side to name his favourite. "A lot of things are said about strengths on paper.
"On paper, South Africa were better than New Zealand. But what happened in the quarter-final in Dhaka? New Zealand beat the so-called favourites. All that matters is what you do on the day."
Asked whether he would unleash veteran Shoaib Akhtar on India considering that he's had some success against the neighbour, Miandad said: "It depends on his fitness and the pitch at Mohali.
"You chalk out your strategy looking at the strip too. Shoaib's a good fast bowler and well known for his exploits. He can be an option."
