Shoaib Says

I had no point to prove

Kolkata: After demolishing Delhi with a tornado-like opening spell in his maiden Indian Premier League appearance, Shoaib Akhtar on Tuesday said that he had "no points to make to anybody".

"I just wanted to win the game. I have no points to make to anybody," the Rawalpindi Express said, minutes after finishing with amazing figures of 3-0-11-4 that wiped out the Delhi top-order and ensured a 23-run victory for Kolkata.

Akhtar thanked his teammates, coach Buchanan, skipper Sourav Ganguly and owner Shah Rukh Khan for their constant backing.

In an oblique reference to the controversy that dogged him for the last few months, Shoaib said "I was stressed but put everything behind me".

The tearaway thanked his teammates, coach John Buchanan, captain Sourav Ganguly and team owner Shah Rukh Khan.

"Sharing the dressing room with SRK and Sourav was fantastic. They backed me. And I am really happy to perform. They put faith in me. And I am happy to deliver."

Visibly elated after his stupendous performance, Akhtar said, "For me, my team is the most important thing. Kolkata is my home team. Eden Gardens is my home ground."

Akhtar first played at the Eden in 1999, and has turned in a number of memorable performances on the hallowed turf.

Criticised often for his attitude problems, Akhtar said "Whenever I play I give 100 per cent."

Praising Akhtar, Ganguly said "He came to the country with lots (of things) happening behind him. But he showed a lot of character."

Delhi captain Virender Sehwag, who became Akhtar's first victim, also paid tributes to the fast bowler.

"This is the best spell of Twenty20 bowling I have seen. He is a great bowler."

He, however, denied that the Delhi side was done in by Shoaib's pace. "We are used to pace. We are all international players. I, Gautam (Gambhir), and (Manoj) Tiwary."

Asked to spell out the reasons for the team's battering in the hands of Akhtar, Sehwag said, "Actually we batted too positively against Shoaib."

Meanwhile, asked about his youthful exuberance in the field during the day, Ganguly replied tongue-in-cheek: "I hope the national selectors are watching."