James McKeown
Shoaib Akhtar - End of the Saga?
November 26th 2006 16:12
Shoaib Akhtar.... The world didnt know him before he bowled Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar with two unplayable yorkers at Eden Gardens in Calcutta in 1999. Thats when everyone stood up and took notice of this tearaway speedster..
But being the cricket fanatic that I am..I knew him from much before when he made his debut against West Indies in 1997. I had been impressed by his bowling action instantly.. I didnt understand much about bowling then to appreciate his bowling. Then in 1998... Pakistan toured South Africa and this fellow grabbed 5/43 to win Pakistan the test match. South Africa was the number 1 side then and for Pakstan to go there and win a test match...it was a great acheivement.
Then the rest of the year 1998 was pretty average for him...he had failed to cement his place in the side and poor bowling against Australia at home later that year meant he was not initially picked for India in 1999.
Regardless of his inconsisten showing so far...he had become one of my favourite bowlers....Then came the Asian Test Championship 1999 at Calcutta... Two deliveries that Shoaib Akhtar and his fans will probably never forget. India were cruising in reply to Paksitan's paltry 185. Shoaib bowled an inswinging yorker to Dravid...his off stump knocked out of the ground. In walked the hero Sachin in to the middle...welcomed by an uproar.. first time Shoaib bowling to the little master...an inswinging yorker....gone...middle stump uprooted..Sachin on his way....that was it...that made Shoaib Akhtar...that made him famous...that gave him his place in the side. Pakistan went onto win that test match and the Test Championship.
Pakistan won all the ODI tournaments in the lead up to the 99 World Cup and Shoaib bowled magnificiently..his fan base was growing...
Then came the World Cup
Pakistan played magnificient cricket and Shoaib bowled brilliantly...ending up with 16 wickets..
Then Pakistan toured Australia...this was Shoaib's big series...a big test series in Australia... this is where the success had slowly started to get to his head..He had a disappointing test series....his action was questioned..got banned..then the ban got revoked and he was back playing again.. Bowled well in the tri series.. Then broke down with injury and missed most of the 2000 and 2001. In 2002..played a pivotal role in Pakistan's 2-1 ODI series win against Australia in Australia.. Then came his best performance ever which can be watched here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya249HodrPU against Australia in the second innings at Colombo.. Australia crusing at 74/1 then totterring at 74/4 at the end of the same over...Ponting, Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh all gone in the same over within the space of 4 ball. Only Shoaib could be so explosive..
T
Today Shoaib is a very popular player. Although he probably has missed more test matches than he has played...but he is an integral member of the side and has won numerous tests for Pakistan...the most recent ones being against England last year.
Despite his talent and his matchwinning ability..he is heavily criticized for his attitude, lack of commitment, lack of teamwork skills, indiscipline, drinking habits, parrtying till late night etc.
All these are probably true.. He probably is indisciplined..he probably DOES drink and party at nights when the team is touring...he probably DOES play for himself...
but he is my favourite bowler... the most explossive bowler in the world...a bowler that has demolished many a batting line up in the world...a bowler that many top order batsmen fear..
The ban I think is too harsh... I think PCB whose relationships with ICC has recently been strained due to the Hair-Inzamam fiasco is trying to show to the world how unbiased and honest it is..
First of all..there have been occasions when players in other sports have been let of for the same offence...the presence of nandrolone. Shoaib Akhtar is an injury prone bowler...he is the fastest bowler who needs various medicines and treatments to keep him fit...in such a case..it is quite possible for nandrolone to be in his blood sample. .Same is the case for Asif. He was also coming back after a serious injury...
Shane Warne was found guilty and was banned for 1 year. Asif has been banned for 1 year...Shoaib is guilty of the SAME offence but is banned for 2 years. Unfair in my books..not to mention too harsh...This ban would probably end his career as it is extremely difficult for a fast bowler like him to make a comeback at 33.
Both Asif and Shoaib are my favourite bowlers and although Asif will inshallah be back...I will sorely miss Shoaib Akhtar and his bowling...the enthusiaism he exudes, the excitement his brings, the thrill he brings.
But being the cricket fanatic that I am..I knew him from much before when he made his debut against West Indies in 1997. I had been impressed by his bowling action instantly.. I didnt understand much about bowling then to appreciate his bowling. Then in 1998... Pakistan toured South Africa and this fellow grabbed 5/43 to win Pakistan the test match. South Africa was the number 1 side then and for Pakstan to go there and win a test match...it was a great acheivement.
Then the rest of the year 1998 was pretty average for him...he had failed to cement his place in the side and poor bowling against Australia at home later that year meant he was not initially picked for India in 1999.
Regardless of his inconsisten showing so far...he had become one of my favourite bowlers....Then came the Asian Test Championship 1999 at Calcutta... Two deliveries that Shoaib Akhtar and his fans will probably never forget. India were cruising in reply to Paksitan's paltry 185. Shoaib bowled an inswinging yorker to Dravid...his off stump knocked out of the ground. In walked the hero Sachin in to the middle...welcomed by an uproar.. first time Shoaib bowling to the little master...an inswinging yorker....gone...middle stump uprooted..Sachin on his way....that was it...that made Shoaib Akhtar...that made him famous...that gave him his place in the side. Pakistan went onto win that test match and the Test Championship.
Pakistan won all the ODI tournaments in the lead up to the 99 World Cup and Shoaib bowled magnificiently..his fan base was growing...
Then came the World Cup
Pakistan played magnificient cricket and Shoaib bowled brilliantly...ending up with 16 wickets..
Then Pakistan toured Australia...this was Shoaib's big series...a big test series in Australia... this is where the success had slowly started to get to his head..He had a disappointing test series....his action was questioned..got banned..then the ban got revoked and he was back playing again.. Bowled well in the tri series.. Then broke down with injury and missed most of the 2000 and 2001. In 2002..played a pivotal role in Pakistan's 2-1 ODI series win against Australia in Australia.. Then came his best performance ever which can be watched here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya249HodrPU against Australia in the second innings at Colombo.. Australia crusing at 74/1 then totterring at 74/4 at the end of the same over...Ponting, Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh all gone in the same over within the space of 4 ball. Only Shoaib could be so explosive..
T
Today Shoaib is a very popular player. Although he probably has missed more test matches than he has played...but he is an integral member of the side and has won numerous tests for Pakistan...the most recent ones being against England last year.
Despite his talent and his matchwinning ability..he is heavily criticized for his attitude, lack of commitment, lack of teamwork skills, indiscipline, drinking habits, parrtying till late night etc.
All these are probably true.. He probably is indisciplined..he probably DOES drink and party at nights when the team is touring...he probably DOES play for himself...
but he is my favourite bowler... the most explossive bowler in the world...a bowler that has demolished many a batting line up in the world...a bowler that many top order batsmen fear..
The ban I think is too harsh... I think PCB whose relationships with ICC has recently been strained due to the Hair-Inzamam fiasco is trying to show to the world how unbiased and honest it is..
First of all..there have been occasions when players in other sports have been let of for the same offence...the presence of nandrolone. Shoaib Akhtar is an injury prone bowler...he is the fastest bowler who needs various medicines and treatments to keep him fit...in such a case..it is quite possible for nandrolone to be in his blood sample. .Same is the case for Asif. He was also coming back after a serious injury...
Shane Warne was found guilty and was banned for 1 year. Asif has been banned for 1 year...Shoaib is guilty of the SAME offence but is banned for 2 years. Unfair in my books..not to mention too harsh...This ban would probably end his career as it is extremely difficult for a fast bowler like him to make a comeback at 33.
Both Asif and Shoaib are my favourite bowlers and although Asif will inshallah be back...I will sorely miss Shoaib Akhtar and his bowling...the enthusiaism he exudes, the excitement his brings, the thrill he brings.
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