TORONTO: Pakistan’s controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said Friday that criticism made him stronger to perform in the field and journalists who write against him are his good friends.

“It motivates me to perform and make me bigger as compared to others,” he told a group of reporters. He said Pakistan captaincy is the most difficult job. But interestingly he said Shoaib Malik was playing his role as skipper admirably.

He said he was looking forward to play his role in success of Pakistan and particularly he was focusing his energies in the show piece game against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

“Sri Lankan are the best team and they got formidable batting and I want to perform against them. “I am fully fit and eagerly awaiting the game against Sri Lanka,” he remarked.

He said whenever he enters the cricket arena he wanted to produce his best and rest is with Allah.

He described Pakistan team a good combination and expressed the hope if they played to their top form there will be no stopping for them.