Imran Khan optimistic about Indian tour

Sharjah, March 31: Pakistan cricket great Imran Khan feels, the hostile atmosphere on the either side of Indo-Pakistan border notwithstanding, Indian cricket team will tour Pakistan in January as scheduled.

Talking to Khaleej Times, here on Friday, the legendary fast bowler expressed optimism on the India-Pakistan cricketing relations. "The tour is scheduled for January 2001 and I genuinely believe that the prevalent tension between the two countries would be much milder by that time if not dissolved completely."

"Anyway the dynamics of politics are entirely different from the sporting relations," said Imran who is in Dubai for a couple of days to watch the final.

On Shoaib Akhtar's recurring groin injury which forced the world's fastest bowler out of the final Imran said : "Shoaib will have to cut short his run-up and concentrate on line and length if he has to survive the grind of international cricket."

"Though injuries to a fast bowler are natural and every bowler has his share of injuries in his career but the guy (Shoaib Akhtar) looks vulnerable to injuries. The answer to his problem is to cut down his run-up and to focus on getting wickets," said Imran.

"Shoaib is young. He should work hard on his fitness and the best thing, I reckon, is to do weight training," said Imran who led Pakistan to World Cup triumph in 1992.

Despite living on the same piece of land why India has not been able to produce as many fast bowlers as Pakistan does? "It's a big mystery to me as well. I have been asked this question before but I have never been able to come up with a definite answer".