Akhtar Ayub was one of the class of 2006, alongside the likes of Anwar Ali, Jamshed Ahmed, Nasir Jamshed, Imad Wasim and co. A vital member of the Under 19 World Cup wining team who in 2006 amazingly won the Under 19 World Cup in Sri Lanka.Having scored only 109 in the final against India, the Pakistan under 19s bowled their Indian counterparts out for only 71 with Akhtar taking 3 for 9 from 2.5 overs.
During that tournament Akhar took 10 wickets at an average of 14.70. Akhar since that tournament has played for Rawalpindi and of late has been playing for QEA 2009 finalists KRL. PakPassion caught up with him in between matches in the RBS Cup 2009.
Many thanks to Yasir Ali for putting us in touch with Akhtar.
PakPassion.Net: When did you first take an interest in cricket?
Akhtar Ayub: From a very early age, my elder brother already played while my mammu(maternal uncle) also played club cricket, they both encouraged and inspired me. I spent most of my childhood days playing and thinking about cricket, it was to the detriment of my studies however, they took a back seat and I didn?t really focus much on school.
PakPassion.Net: You were one of the stars of the U-19 World Cup winning side of 2006, how did that feel and what was so special about the team?
Akhtar Ayub: The feeling is hard to explain, of course it was a tremendous high for us young cricketers to be on top of the world at such an early stage of our careers, but I suppose with time comes the realization that the real hard work has only just begun and there?s a long road ahead. The main thing about that team was excellent team spirit, that is the key ingredient of any team that does well.
PakPassion.Net: At that World Cup you were clocked at around 90 mph, are you still able to achieve such express pace?
Akhtar Ayub: I?ve been able to achieve speeds of 91-92mph in the RBS cup which is being played at the moment. I?m happy to say that I?m still able to bowl consistently fast and Inshallah will continue to do so in the future.
PakPassion.Net: Which of your former U-19 teammates do you feel deserve and are ready to step up to the full national team?
Akhtar Ayub: Nasir Jamshed, Anwar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed have already achieved this dream and will all hopefully be part of the set up in the years to come. One member of that side that is definitely ready for the step up is my fellow fast bowler Jamshed Ahmed, Inshallah it won?t be long before he gets the deserved recognition.
PakPassion.Net: With regard to yourself how far do you feel you are from realizing your ambition of playing for Pakistan?
Akhtar Ayub: If I am being realistic then I feel that I need about 1 to 2 years to fully mature as a bowler, after that time I should have good experience under my belt and think I will be in a position to push for a place in the national team. I?m under no illusions about how tough the competition is and added to that there?s plenty of politics at every level in our game to deal with too.
PakPassion.Net: Some experienced cricketers have commented on how your action causes injuries, do you feel this is so and have you taken any steps to remedy this or thought about changing it?
Akhtar Ayub: I don?t agree with these views, I have made minor technical adjustments to my bowling but that is to improve myself as a bowler not really related to avoiding injuries.
PakPassion.Net: Which coaches have you worked with at the NCA and who has been the best and why?
Akhtar Ayub: I?ve worked quite a bit with both Aaqib Javed and Waqar Younis. Without doubt the best coach I?ve worked with is Waqar bhai, his whole approach is excellent, he puts you at ease so that you don?t feel in awe of him, and you just sense that you?re working with an absolute master of the art. He taught me to bowl outswing as this had previously been missing from my armoury.
PakPassion.Net: Do you get much advice about diet from the coaches/trainers?
Akhtar Ayub: At the NCA they are very strict about what we eat, won?t find too much food that?s been cooked in oil! However I wouldn?t say that we are really educated that much on what to eat and what not to eat for when we are not attending the NCA or playing a match. I tend to follow a pretty normal diet when I?m back in the comfort of home.
PakPassion.Net: What are your biggest strengths as a bowler?
Akhtar Ayub: I possess the ability to bowl a good bouncer and a good yorker and can usually land these deliveries in the right areas when I try to bowl them. They are both wicket taking balls but I do try to make sure I don?t overdo either of them.
PakPassion.Net: What would you say are your biggest weaknesses then and which area of your game needs the most work?
Akhtar Ayub: Probably not bowling a consistent length is my biggest shortcoming at present, it?s about finding that in between length between being too full or too short, I?m working on pitching the ball more consistently in that just short of a length area which always keeps the batsman guessing about whether to come forward or stay back.
PakPassion.Net: We?ve heard that you are not developing your game because you play in a team(KRL) with more than enough bowlers(Yasir Ali, Arafat, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir), meaning you don?t get enough chances to play. Is this so and have you thought about leaving and playing for another team where more opportunity would be available?
Akhtar Ayub: That is absolutely correct, we have got 11 fast bowlers at KRL and there?s only about 10 games each season! The bowlers are all of a good quality too so of course there?s tremendous competition for places which is both good and bad. I will end up playing probably 5-7 games and the situation at the moment is that with the national team hardly playing all our international stars are pretty much available all of the time! I did actually put in a request to leave at the start of the season but was persuaded to stay and fight it out by my captain Mohammad Wasim. I really do respect him a lot and agreed to stay, and for the time being my intention is to carry on with KRL. Of course if the current situation doesn?t improve then I will certainly review my situation again.
PakPassion.Net: Out of your KRL fast bowling colleagues, who is the most helpful with advice and what sort do they provide?
Akhtar Ayub: Yasir Ali and Jaffar Nazir have been the most helpful, Jaffar bhai has really guided me a lot as a professional cricketer and been a constant source of encouragement when things haven?t gone well on the field of play. Again I know the question is about bowlers but I would once again mention my captain Mohammad Wasim, his support has been excellent and apart from the players we also have a very good manager in Rashid (Iqbal?).
PakPassion.Net: How about Shoaib Akhtar, how is the experience of playing alongside him?
Akhtar Ayub: Very good, Shoaib bhai is a great character a very easy going person, I get on very well with him and find him to be very helpful whenever he is around.
PakPassion.Net: Who is the best batsman that you have bowled to?
Akhtar Ayub: Mohammad Yousuf, you hear about him being a class player but only when you bowl to him do you realize the level of class the man possesses. He seems to have plently of time to play the ball and will hit even good balls to the boundary. Bowling to someone like him is an education as even the slightest error in line or length is punished. I have also bowled a little to Inzamam ul Haq but Inzy bhai was at the very end of his career, all I can say is I?m glad I didn?t bowl to him at his peak!
PakPassion.Net: Who were your cricketing idols when growing up?
Akhtar Ayub: For an aspiring fast bowler who else could it be but our legendary duo Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Of course as I said earlier I?ve been fortunate to have worked with Waqar bhai and it?s like a dream come true.
PakPassion.Net: What are your interests away from cricket?
Akhtar Ayub: I enjoy shopping and listening to music, my favourite singer is the legendary Lata Mangeshkar she?s still got a beautiful voice even at such an advanced age. Also as a sportsman I can never ever fully get away from cricket so keeping myself fit is always high on the agenda.
PakPassion.Net: Thank you for giving Pakpassion the opportunity to speak to you, Inshallah next time we talk it will be to Pakistan fast bowler Akhtar Ayub
Akhtar Ayub: Inshallah and it has been a pleasure for me to have been of service, I hope your website goes from strength to strength.
