Eden discovers it loves Shoaib

Wednesday May 14, 01:22 AM

Kolkata, May 13: He was the cynosure of all eyes since he arrived here to play for the Knight Riders. And when D-Day finally arrived on Wednesday, Shoaib Akhtar made his presence felt very quickly.

A first over dismissal of Delhi Daredevils’ skipper Virender Sehwag followed by Gautam Gambhir’s wicket in his second meant that the visitors had been dealt a death blow early on.

And the half-full Eden Gardens just loved it all. Cranking up real pace — his quickest clocked at 152 kmph — Shoaib had the crowds roaring and chanting his name, and he could as well have been playing at Rawalpindi, given the kind of reception he got.

Earlier, it was a starry welcome for the Rawalpindi Express. Shah Rukh Khan presented him the team shirt. Akhtar, in turn asked for an autograph on the shirt and King Khan was happy to oblige.

Time and again Shoaib has expressed his gratitude to the Knight Riders’ owner for getting the license to play in the IPL. Indeed, without Shah Rukh’s efforts he would have been languishing in Pakistan. "I am a big fan of Shah Rukh. I have watched lots of his movies with Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge being a special favourite. I want to return the favour," Shoaib said.

Till Wednesday morning, there was uncertainty over his participation. Coach John Buchanan was skeptical about his match fitness but a final test in the morning and then, before the start of the match meant that the quick had got the OK.

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