The PCB has released Shoaib Akhtar from the 15 man World Twenty20 squad and replaced him with Rao Iftikhar Anjum. In a revealing statement, the PCB has disclosed that Shoaib’s skin infection was of the sexually transmitted kind. No other board in world cricket would have released such details had it been one of their players but not the Pakistanis. I guess Shoaib is not exactly in the PCBs good books so they’d do pretty much do anything to stain his character. So much for patient confidentiality though.
To be honest, they’ve probably caused themselves as much embarrassment with their unprofessionalism as they have Shoaib.
Why Rao Iftikhar though? Decent bowler yes but not suited to Twenty20. Stani Army had suggested that Rana Naved should be called up having cancelled his ICL contract but it seems that the PCB still fear the reaction of the ICC and BCCI.
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May 22nd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I think this shows that theres a split between the board admin and the coach and captain. The coach and captain want to utilise him whenever possible but the pcb administration are still trying to get him at every opportunity.
Agreed, Rana should have been called up
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Yes, good point Underarm.
I’m not an expert on law but I wouldn’t be surprised if Akhtar sues the PCB for public disclosure of private facts under the defamation laws. If I were his lawyer, I would recommend it as it would help him pay back some of his fines.
May 25th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Wow.. could have never thought u had a link to Pakistan cricket TJ / Stani Army
As you’ve heard, there’s more to the Shoaib story than just the gential warts. I think there’s a lot more to come on this.
Strangely he didn’t appear for the Isb Leopards today, unlike it was reported. Wonder what stopped him.
Coming to Rana Naveed.. surely u can’t be serious. He is past his sell by date.
May 25th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Welcome Q!
Yes, Stani as in Pakistani!
Surely you’re not serious about that view on Rana right? He’s become more experienced in bowling and is a wicket taker (not really Rao’s forte) and his batting is destructive. Did you not see him in the ICL?
Shoaib should just retire. It may just hasten our search for a new fast bowler.
May 26th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Yep figures the Stani part when I got to the site
..
I followed Rana in the ICL.. he has improves his batting no doubt, but bashing up the ICL bowlers and even those at the county level is different than doing it at international level.
On his bowling, his yorkers are as good as anyones.. and he did well for Pak too .. but he started to become really expensive.
I’m no fan of Rao’s and agree that Shoaib should retire too. He shud have long time ago.
As for a new fast bowler.. watch out for Aamer in the 20-20 WC.. he’s a handful.. and only 17. He’s our future.
May 26th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I agree about Rana being expensive Q but that’s almost a given with wicket takers. I’m sure if he is not given the new ball and saved till the end then he can be effective.
Yes. We need to get these youngsters in and give them games.
May 28th, 2009 at 3:11 am
Although it was unethical to release the details of Shoaib’s ailment to the media but Shoaib never left any other choice for PCB, before every series that moron declares himself fit and then breaks down during the series, now when PCB withdrew his name from the WC he was again going to cause problem by playing for ISL LP. Shoaib is like a Genital wart for PCB a disease which never goes away and has no cure it breaks out frequently shows brief signs of improvement but only until the next flare up. I think PCB has decided to remove this wart permanently.
May 28th, 2009 at 3:13 am
I do agree with you on Rana Naveed but would prefer Razaaq over him. Rao will prove to be a good bowler in English conditions. As a bowler he is far better than both Razzaq and Rana but the other two are miles ahead in batting.
May 28th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Waseem, PCB should have got rid of him a long time ago. They’re just causing themselves problems. The guy is finished. Sad but true…what a waste.
Good point about Rao in Eng conditions.
Yes, I wouldn’t mind Razzaq either. As you rightly point out, his and Rana’s batting is better than Raos. Rana is doing quite well over here right now though.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Rana has always done well in English conditions. His batting has also improved a lot.
Razzak just showed us in the RBS 20-20 why he shud be back playing for Pak soon.
As for Shoaib – I agree.. he should have been gone long time ago.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
So who do you think chose Rao? Younis, Intikhab? Just seems a strnge selection for this format.
I think they could have waited a bit longer to decide. It was as if they didn’t want Shoaib to get better so quickly sent a replacement to the ICC
May 28th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Rao is not a bad bowler, we all forget that even the best bowlers in the world get thrashed in limited overs cricket every now and then. It’s just that he doesn’t have an aura of a star.
PCB cannot all of a sudden ignore all those players who preferred national duty over dollars offered by illegal leagues. I think it will take some time for the ICL players to get back into the team.
May 28th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I agree Waz, all bowlers do go for some in the shorter form. Thing is, when this happens to Rao he has no plan B. If he can work on some variations then I’ll be more than happy with him.
As for the ICL players; the only reason the league was illegal is because BCCI said so and we just accepted. Now we are punishing our own players and national team because of them.
They just wanted to earn a decent living.