Great post, thank you.

Shoaib Akhtar such a great bowler but he is his own enemy #1.

I thought a man’s medical history was something very personal, confidential and only his doctor is supposed to know. How come it being discussed is so openly !!
Cricket is a game from colonial past.Drop this game & play other sports.

i believe world’s fast bowler, no doubt, shoaib akhter, who is very much capable of demolishing oponents within a couple of overs. He need prayers and quick recovery. I wish all the best to this power house and legend.

Pakistan produced many great fast bowlers from Fazal Mohd to Khan Mohd, Asif Masood, Sarfraz and later the super greats Imran, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younus. All were great, real greats, but Shoaib is not a patch with these greats. To me he looked like a erratic quickie who bowled without knowing what he was bowling; a classic case of all brawn and no brain. Top of it, he had a suspect action; look at his wrist position when he delivers the red cherry. It is bent and that shows he chucked. With his imminent bye bye, i am sure Pakistan would be better off sans his irrational tantrums. What we need is likes of Wasim Akram….

He is a wasted talent. He was a prey of his own success. He is a bad example for youngsters.

It is extremely hard on the body to bowl at that speed for any length of time. Shoaib’s major problem is human physiology. such a bowler should only be used for short periods to have any longevity.

Do we all even know cricket? I mean I am sick and tired of people who dont know a damn thing about cricket and all they care for is the gup shup and rumors on magazines and internet articles about players like Shoaib Akthar in this case. I mean if you dont even watch cricket you are definitely one of those people who talks bad about Shoaib Akthar and others for example on Pakistan team like Waqar and Wasim used to thrashed. I mean Shoaib is a unbelievable talent and for those who thrash him about hsi personal life look at yourselves for one how many of the Pakistani youth go to night clubs and drink and party … I mean most of them do… Shoaib is no different.. he is another young kid trying to enjoy himself… and for the story about him getting upset at team management.. do you know a damn about cricket… Pakistan lost that series for your pardon in South Africa after Shoaib Akhtar was pulled from the tour for no reason… and he was upset… Shoaib Akthar has always been unfairly treated… has acted immaturely at times sure Shoaib has… but he has always given Pakistan his full effort… no fast bowler can bowl at 100 mph Shoaib is the only bowler ever in history.. those who know cricket and not these idiots who all they care about is the rumors and drama writen on articles and internet… you people this is not a soap opera this is cricket dont write comments about a topic when you know nothing about the sport and act like you people know something about cricket…. For that matter bowling at 100 mph accurate and taking wickets under enormous pressure takes unbelievable practice and focus determination… any cricketer will tell you that… Shoaib has a huge following and supporters because those people know cricket not idiots who only know the gossip headlines and thrash shoaib…. what are you people jealous.. of his success or people like him…. Shoaib has given all to Pakistan … if you know cricket you will remember the Ashes winning England side in 2005 was single handedly defeated by the works of Shoaib Akthar and the England coach cried on a post game news conference after losing the test series saying shoaib had a illegal bowling action and that was complete lie he claimed shoaib akthar is a cheater for no reason .. the same took place when India was destroyed by Shoaib akthar in the following series when then indian coach Chappell cried also that shaoib was a cheater in conference after losing test series… by the way Shoaib had disappeared for two years banned at one point from cricket for a substance almost all cricketer are using today and isnt even a direct steriod…. ARE WE BEING FARE TO SHOAIB… certainly people have killed shoaibs career not shoaib….

A good read. If Shoaib were a great like Akram or Imran than I’m sure the man would have been flying in the Sky instead of walking on the ground. Attitude, discipline is all gone after skipper Imran. We should abandon Cricket and once again focus on Hockey just like 70s and 80s. it’s a shame to know anything about Pak Cricket. No consistency at all.

Guys…
No mater one he is still a great bowler…I hated him most when he did not perform but back home in Pakistan everyone wanna know what he does in clubs and out side..this is non of anybody’s business…at least in my point of view..one thing is to be noticed..why we need PCB? They dont care about talent, cricket and even representing big P in their name..we need a structure and proper management there but what I am talking about ;O) in my beloved country people have no discipline for nothing..so how come we expect cricket will be different?

Hi,

I read someone here saying Indian batmen were afarid of him. I think this guy never a cricket match. Can anyone forget the way Sachin and Shewag took him to the cleaners that too in a world cup match ?

He was a checker that was undosputable. and he lacks any resemblence of discipline to be a great bowler

Ravi Krishnamurthy
Bangalore

outsource your cricket board to BCCI. Lalit Modi will solve your problems.

A well summoned article that rounds up his professional achievements – Which are hardly any. But lets face it, if Rocky keeps coming back, then how could Shoaib Akhtar not.

HAHAHA ‘…transmitted through his flannels’
You can’t help but laugh at someones demise how ever great he might be. The guy is/was a match winner, if you’ve seen any interviews of him he is pretty calm and down to earth but apparently he ’shows off’ how? and we don’t like him because of this, pakistani cricket as boring as it is to watch now without moin khan, akram, waqar, anwar and razzaq most of these guys are now exports for pakistan half of them spend time in India, england and Aus their knowledge is not being used by pakistan, you can’t & can blame the cricket board, its own by the government! what a bunch of idiots, at give pakistan back something we can fix. In regards to Akhtar he still bowls faster than most in our team.

Dear Reader,

I am just a cricket fan and as far as my opinion about Shoaib is concerned. He is a dengerous baller. He is a match winner, don’t forget his contribution to Pakistan Cricket. The problem with Pakistanis is that they always forget the contribution of their players. There is no baller in the world who never had a bad day. People talk about Ambros and Wash, even they were hit by Basit Ali in all corners of the ground. The important this is the potential of any baller. His presence in the team make alot of difference. I will not classify him in the catagory of Wasim or Waqar but no doubt he is an exciting baller to watch.

If any one has played cricket and bowled they might be knowing that you cannot perform on regular basis. All i Know about Shoaib that no bowler can make an entry in cricket like him. Why do we guys forget the great wins he has got Pakistan. Its sad that we guys only look for victories………. afterall its just cricket…. he channelled his enormous resources far better in 2002, turning in two of the most blistering bowling efforts of the year, both against Australia. First, he blitzed them with a spell of 5 for 25 in a one-dayer at Brisbane, and then returned 5 for 21 in a spectacular performance in Colombo that all but won the Test. against South Africa in Durban in 2006-07, having not been picked for the series initially, took 4 for 36 in 11 overs, set up a Test win. Yes i agree Shoaib was a bowler……God knows till when?????? But the fear of Shoaib still remains

So what if he bowled 100 MPH? Was his fast bowling any good for team at times of need? I don’t think so. He’s not economical, he’s not a team player. He thinks he is the fastest yet can’t bowl straight! Any John Doe would bowl as faster as 100MPH big deal!

Shoaib is E=mc2 which has never been tested by any one.

Shoaib is Past shaoib Is gone Shoiab is History…….!!!…

He in many ways some how reminds me of the great Vinod Kambli….both are completely messed up in their minds…

His arrogance and stupidity has destoryed his own career. He still have a lot to go. Hope he has learnt, and if he did, we all are with him for him….yes, we need personalities, because the feeble personalities that we have in our politics that have let down the country, we need to see better, there in politics, and here in sports…agreesive, who can stand for the country, so that the nation can feel proud!!! Shoaib is on the top list, we await his comeback!!!

no matter he is “good,bad or ugly” we lost a pakistani who was known to the world as a “star”.

how many bowler bowls at the speed, shoiab used to bowl. He deserve to be more respect, whatever he has personallity, he did a great for the cricket and for the pakistan. Playing cricket at level is not easy plus all stress and fitness level. A cricketer like him need support not criticism.

I think it is poor taste to openly discuss another’s personal affliction in the public domain. Shoaib may or may not be a great cricketer at the moment, but it is for the PCB to decide to opt him for play or not. Whoever leaked this story about his affliction must be dealt with severely.He doesn’t deserve this kind of humiliation.I do hope he recovers from whatever that is ailing him.

Well past his “sell by” date.

These days Shoib does not look lilke a personality with pace..looks more like a personality with a pacemaker…

Everything aside, Shoaib Akhtar did commit a criminal offence when he was found with drugs. I agree that his talent is amazing, but responsibility is also required in a person who wishes to reach his full potential, both as a sportsman and civilian.

He is a great sportsman.
Where ever he goes, he commands respect.
He still has a couple of years.
Guys, give him a BREAK!!!!!!!!!

The only reason we are reading and commenting on this article is because we are a dysfunctional nation. If that wasn’t’ the case, none of Shoaib’s antics would be taken seriously or worth commenting on. As Cricket is (above all) entertainment and its players is entertainer. Shoaib has it all (looks, pace, destructive behavior) that you need to see in an entertainer. And that is why people were cheering when he came to bowl against Sri Lanka.

Thus, I wouldn’t think of him as a role model or share my guard with him, but will pay to watch him perform…any day of the week. I just wish PCB uses the resources more effectively.

Shoaib is a precious asset for Pakistan. He still can play and terrorize the opposite team. He is brilliant and everybody loves to see him on the field.
We should all give him a standing ovation and he is our HERO. He is still energetic and still can play for almost 7-8 years if someone let him play. We know, there has always been very bad politics in PCB and in the cricket arenas but we should let him breathe and give him some sort of distance so that he can heal himself and become in good shape for the next game.

We all Pakistanis are PROUD OF HIM.
thank you SHOAIB! YOU ARE THE LION!!!

Shoaib is an exceptional talent.I wish PCB could have an equal talent to harness a difficult personality rather than helping him to gradual waste.

I feel sorry for Shoaib, because he has shot himself in the foot many times. He has fought with his own team mates, coaches and took performance enhancing drugs. I have never seen such a cricketer in the past 30 years who has wasted his talent, despite being one of the most talented fast bowler. He lacked discipline and commitment needed to succeed at this level. He has hardly played a year without some kind of injury in the past couple of years.Boxer Mohammed Ali and our own Squash legend Jahangir Khan were disciplined players. You need discipline to become a world class player and succeed.
If Shoaib had been strongly disciplined earlier in his cricket career by the PCB, he may have been saved setbacks which not only affected him,but also greatly tarnished the image of Pakistan. No player is greater than the game or country.

On his day, Shoaib is a threat to any batsman but he is a waste of a spot on the cricket team generally. We have had some hot headed bowlers [Imran, Sarfaraz, Waqar] but they all performed and actually had careers. The Pakistani board should have dropped him a long time back. We aspire to be like the Australians where our cricket is concerned yet we dont necessarily follow their mode of operation. Look at how Symonds , who is unarguably one of the best all rounders in the world, has been handled by the Australians. He committed a crime and he did the time. His latest mis step will probably cost his career but it will set an example for the other upcoming hot heads.

At the end of the day, Shoaibs job is to play cricket and give his best. If we at our jobs have temper tantrums, hit our colleagues, work only twice a week and that only for a few hours – we WILL be shown the door regardless of how potentially good we are. Same should apply to Shoaib.

Shoaib!!

I am from India and I am a very big fan of yours.

If you are reading these comments and this article, please dnt feel disheartened.
You were, are and will always be a star. Specially for the fans of pace bowling. People will always remember the fear which you infused in Ganguly’s mind.
So what if Pakistani people dont respect you.
You are an international star.

I want you to make a comeback and show every one that there is one and only one SHOAIB AKHTAR. All the best man, millions of peopple all over the world want to see their favorite one and only remaining genuine pace bowler back in action.

love you.

Though Shoaib Akhtar did make much impact in IPL tournament but he was a great hit with Indian media and TV channels with live shows by major channels made him a hero here.

Shoaib Akhtar is highly overrated. His boasting is not reflected in his performance. He has the ego of an inflated baloon. He always boasts that he can achieve a lot but fails miserably in his performance. I wonder why Pakistan Cricket control board has kept its faith in this unpredictable bowler for so long.

S AKhtar is one of the greatest cricketer pak has ever produced, but at the same time present PCB-Team is the worst bunch of peoples pak has ever produced.

There is something called a brain, and sadly he never used his properly. In the South Africa world cup he just ran in clueless bowled express and got battered by Sachin and Sehwag and then looked clueless.
You can’t succeed in anything unless you think deeply and work hard at what your task is. Umar Gul looked totally confused against Albie Morkel the other day, instead of showing your opponent you have lost, you should study the video tapes and analyse their weaknesses and strengths.
Everything is simple in cricket if you apply sensible thinking and hard work. Thats what Waqar,Wasim and Imran Khan did, they practised hard at their game, improved and also studied their opponents. They didn’t just bowl flat out and have no plan B like Shoaib did most of his career and Mohammed Sami who gets bemused when he bowls straight and fast and gets no wickets. Bring him back (Sami) that is for his pace, we need the variety, but he needs to be made mentally stronger and taught how to bowl to different batsman and learn to increase his variety of wicket taking deliveries, instead of relying on yorkers and bowling fast and straight at the stumps.

Shoaib Akhter brought to Pakistan what Brain Lara brought to West Indian cricket,the American Sports Agent who taught these great cricketers to think about themselves before their country.Its such a shame that players like Shoaib are still being considered for selection.When I look back at his career, its a long list of controversies with an odd performance here and there.He is a negative role model for youngsters of Pakistan but very popular in India as he never could produce against them, most notably in 2004 home series.
The sooner Pakistan Cricket turn their back on him the better it would be for Pakistan Cricket.

The whole thing is so funny!! Yes obviously I am an Indian. I just cannot stop giggling. Genital warts!

no matter what but atlast he had done a lot for the country and in future if he can play he ill try to do more then he has done…shoiab is a magestic talent but a pure reckless person!!! i think thats the reason why he always suffers

Oh C’mon guys!
fullfill potential..justify his talents..reach peaks..need psychologist..spoiled brat..blah blah blah
Not everyone is an angel! and he isn’t the worst devil in sports!
He did what he could. He enjoyed his bit. and we enjoyed him a bit too. whats the big deal!
Let poor bugger alone and let him live his own life, for heaven’s sake!

Skills can only be continued with a right atttitude towards your work. If you are skillfull but u lack attitude towards work then you will never be successful in your life…Shoaib needs a god father to teach him discipline which is needed in cricket. He also needs to learn the art of team work. If he tries even 20%, I am sure that someday he will be back with a bang! I am happy with PCB keeping him out because that will be a lesson for upcoming youngsters and young guns of Pakistan cricket!

As a genuine opening fast bowler myself during high school and college, I agree with the author completely, it is our facination with a Pakistani pace attack, and the fear of the conveyor belt drying-up, which Pakistan absolutly cannot afford. Shoaib is true talent which should have been harnessed from the very beginning, and as a Pakistani, I sincerely want him to succeed and exit the game at the pinnacle of his international career.

Shoaib was a potential great fast bowler who unfortunately never fulfilled his potential, thanks to his hair triggering antics. No way, he can be called a all time great, he had the potential, but busted it up thanks to him only.

People, lets be fair. While most of the criticism for Shoaib is in line (factual), yet to be noted on this blog is that he has been treated unfairly many a times, both by local board & media as well as by international media. As far as i can remember, he very very rarely comes out and blames people on public for his share of un-fairness.

he was even de-famed for a false rape charge in England, which turned out to be completly untrue, yet our Pakistan media relished playing it up. He was forced to waste a lot of his time with the bowling action correction by the ICC.

Like i said, this is not to take away his responsibility or lack of it towards his job/sport. but to paint a complete picture.

the larger pciture however remains, i think all of us should now (by all i mean the cricket followers/players and fans in pakistan) move ahead from Akhtar and ask this simple question, Pakistan has a HUGE amount of cricketing talent, by sheer volume as well as quality. Many a cricketing legends have acknowledged pakistan to be the prime talen pool for the sport , in the world. Surely there are several other talented Pacers, left handed or right that can be brought up. But we haven’t seen a star in so many year.

So what is the board doing, while the neighbour board keeps becoming not only richer but stronger and more innovative. Why in the last so many year, could we not produce 2 start batsmen and a mere one, feared bowler…. food for thought. Shoaibs, there – good or avg. performer whichever – thats a done deal.
rather than disecting his career handling process, it would serve well if we ponder why are tehre no more “forthcoming” stars in the national team- since years- where is the cricketing passion gone?

The person like shoaib aktar should learn cricket life from cricketers like kumble/dravid who do less show off and talk less and play more.Also, probly people like mudassar nazar can be god model for shoaib.anyway now u cant change him.let him take rest.

Shoib is one of the maestro, i must say with whatever performance for pakistan. I think a player doesnt become bad until someone makes him bad. There has to be a reason behind this .it take two hands to clap.Many players like him get injured and they struggle during the comeback.Brett lee,flintoff etc all are the recent case of recovery people n not performed. The only thing that makes shoib different n them is the support from their respective board. Shoib has not been supported at all.shoib is very big player with little support.Remember Flintoff played two game for IPL and bowled only 6 overs in whatever match he played.So if you calculate his contract money of us$1.5 million.it means that one over he bowl was of US$5,000.

well every pak cricket is talented, but destroyed by their own internal system..can you still wonder person like afridi whose avg is below 30 after 10 years in cricket

certainly well written, but make up your mind whether you would like to see him back in the Pakistan side or not..

but how long PCB will do this. this biased game, how long will it continue?

I always feel sad about the performance of Mr. Shoab Akhtar. He was a great blower, but could not maintain his line & length and fitness. We lost him due to his own wrong doings. We should remember near to perfect sportsmen in Cricket. But he is not. It is sad affair.

There are almost 15 comments posted and nobody has sided in Akhtar’s favor. Perhaps we need Akhtar as a fear factor. After all he is still the fastest bowler and Indians batsmen in particular are still afraid of him. Its sad due to large endorsement by Indian businessman, our players become submissive to Indian batsmen and don’t bowl to their full potential. Maybe Akhtar future should be worse then all the players so for future players coming up can take a lesson from Akhtar that dont forget on what made you popular in the first place.

Patience guys patience.
We had had some great moments with him, when he was on the song.
Who are we to decide about it, certainly none of us is a cricket expert. All fans here!
Wasim, Waqar, Javed, Inzi, all deserved a respectable quit.
None of them had it, this is not a coincidence. Its a shame!
We cricket fans believe in rapid divorces, who can testify that he has absolutely nothing in store for us……..

Never loved this game because of its idiosyncrasy. Is he the same fellow who always had disciplinary problem with team management ?
Describing him as “character” you are trying to shield him unnecessarily. Who cares if he plays or not !!!

I am really surprised how pakistanis have tolerated Shoaib for so long. He was offensive and abusive to a fatherly and kind figure like Bob Woolmer, arrogant and hot headed and set bad examples for youngsters through his on and off the field exploits. How could you select a bowler repeatedly, who nearly always failed to complete his quota in the short game. For tests he was totally unfit always. The latest is warts, which should be sufficient excuse for his permanent ouster from the struggling Pakistani outfit.100 miles per hour notwithstanding, he should be dumped unceremoniously.

spot on!

Shoaib and many others have been cruely undone by the PCB. He was never given the respect and taken care-off. HE put up with so much with respect to his bowling action, not to mention the fact that he has a unique physic i.e. flat footed, the rib cage etc. We love to malign people and talk down their talents much as we did with Wasim/Waqar.

“If someone ever needed a sports Psychologist it was him.” I completely agree with Dr Ashar …. this was his problem, he simply could not handle, what he had

its true he is past his best but why cant we leave the guy alone. look at wht he has done for pakistan. the holder of the fastest ball ever bowled. though the fuel is fast running out of the rawalpindi express but play him because hes a terrorizing personality for the opposition. its about time now to stop depending on shoaib and concentrate on umer gul coz shoaib’s best days are behind him. well and truly he has been the architect of many of pakistan’s famous victories.

Shoaib was a Lion undoubtedly … but i guess now it seems he is a Lion who works in a circus . he needs a ring master to make him move!

Shoaib Akhtar is a lost star. A star which is diminishing before reaching to its zenith.

Never mind about his personal life and stories around him. Encountering negative publicity of the country all the times, I was a bit demoralized, but recently I felt very proud when one of my teacher was giving an example of speed and he mentioned his name . “As fast as Shoaib’s bowling”, listening this sentence in front of many other nationals was simply Brilliant!

Shoaib believe me u’ll b doing a great favour to ur fans if u call it a day.Unmistakably u r past ur peak.

Shoaib was a great talent .He blame others for not handle him properly but in my veiw he was himself not sincere with the God gifted talent he had . If someone ever needed a sports Psychologist it was him.

It is very hard to stay at peak, you need more energy there. Shoib has been on peak, he try best to stay. Fast bolers has limited time. Naturally it require strength. So be proud and transfer the guts to younger player, you will remain in touch. Wish you all success.

He never utilized his potential fully. Always wanted to be in the news, for good or bad. His own goals get high priorities than the team. I don’t know how many matches he has won for pakistan, single handedly. He is like a spoiled kid and could not have justified his inclusion in the team on the performance alone. Yes he attracted media attention. I hope he will read this comments. I think there is lesson for future playes is not to get side-track

Shoaib Akhter played a lot of cricket for Pakistan. He is our hero. But they should leave the game at the appropriate in their career. Problem with our cricketers is that they are not prepared to say goodbye in a good manner. Every player like Waqar, Waseem, Inzimam was thrown out of the team. No one resigned unless he was completely ignored by the selectors. They should have leave the game much earlier.

Shoaib has got immense talent. I have always been a great fan of him due to the potential he has. But I believe that to achieve the status of a great fast bowler you need to have more in yourself than just pace and aggression. Sarfraz, Imran, Waseem and Waqar all had pace along with determination, consistency, patience and charisma; few characteristics that Shoaib desperately lacks.

Loved reading this!

Best was ‘he has had more comebacks than Rocky’!

i guss, shoiab is an expireinced asset, but his undelivernce is causing him & the nation. its time for him to paractice harder & also PCB , should give him right, chance on right,& on right truff!
most of the times shoaib, had been given the chance to bowl at slow, muddy wickets, which is the ,most unfair affair.

it would be better, that PCB rethink its policy to prepare dusty & slow wickets & should start prepring , seeming & pacy wickets, surly it will very good for our batsmans & for a guy like shoaib?

Shoaib’s personality was once summarized in a nutshell by Mr. Amarnath while making expert comments about a few years back in an excellent manner. The comment was made in Punjabi- translated into english it means that ‘horses used in marraige ceremonies are not the same as used in the battlefield’.

I’ve been a big Akhtar fan for long, but even a person like me is losing patiance with this guy. He’s 33. Exactly when does he plan to finally fulfill his potential. Wasim, Waqar, Sarfaraz and, espacially Imran, had all hit their peaks at this age. It seems Akhtar keeps hitting something different all togather.