Shoaib Akhtar

Mumbai: Shoaib Akhtar was seven minutes late for the Kolkata Knight Riders’ bus in the early hours of last Saturday, when the team was to catch a flight for Hyderabad. On Thursday morning, though, he was some ten minutes searly.

“Embarrassed by last week’s delay, Shoaib parked himself in the bus well in advance and began counting those who came after him… He has quickly learnt to respect the team’s culture,” said a member of the Knight Riders’ management.

Shoaib has come to be talked about as Pakistan cricket’s enfant terrible, but he has been anything but a problem child during nearly a fortnight’s stay with the Knight Riders.

“I’ve been enjoying myself… I’ve been made to feel so comfortable… Believe me, this is the best team that I’ve been with after the one which reached the 1999 World Cup final (under Wasim Akram)… That was a great bunch, this is a great bunch,” Shoaib told The Telegraph.

Speaking in the lead-up to Friday night’s face-off against the Mumbai Indians, Shoaib added: “It’s important for teams to recognise match-winners and to treat them as such… The Knight Riders have done so, allowing me to feel absolutely at ease… From (owner) Shah Rukh Khan to the captain (Sourav Ganguly) to the coach (John Buchanan)… Everybody is making my stint enjoyable… Of course, I can’t forget the fans…”

According to Shoaib, he felt rather embarrassed when, after his stunning MoM-award winning performance at the Eden on Tuesday, fans began thanking him.

Grinning, he said: “I felt quite embarrassed because I’m being paid to get wickets and help the Knight Riders win matches… There’s no need for anybody to thank me.”

Had he been under pressure at the Eden, not having played at any level for months? “No way… I don’t think of pressure… Main pressure leta nahin hoon… Just do my work... In fact, I don’t even bother about the look of the wicket or the reputation of the batsmen…”

Not even the reputation of a Sachin Tendulkar? “Not at all… Why should I be concerned with reputations?” was Shoaib’s counter, as quick as one of his thunderbolts.

Shoaib remarked that helping the Ishant Sharmas and the Ashok Dindas was part of his unofficial brief. “I’ve got over a decade of international experience and, if I can help anybody, I’ll gladly do so… It could be Ishant or Dinda or somebody else.”

Clearly, Shoaib’s intent on returning to Pakistan with a very different image. The buzz, in any case, is that the five-year ban may actually be lifted.

Footnote: Shoaib did get Sachin cheaply, but got mauled by a rampaging Sanath Jayasuriya at the Wankhede. A bad day in office after a terrific one at the Eden.