With the emergence of Mohammad Aamer, would a fit Shoaib have a place in the Pakistan first team?
In the past, we’ve had to keep on going back to Shoaib because there was no one else fast or good enough to partner Umar Gul as the other of the two Pakistan pace spearheads. Maybe part of the reason for his bad behaviour was that he felt he brought something unique to the Pakistan attack so was thus indispensable and could do pretty much what he liked. His recent comment, “I am the fastest bowler in history and it’s not possible for everyone to bowl at 150 (kph)”, does give some indication of such a mindset. Yet now that we have Aamer, and due the reasons which we will now examine, I think Shoaib would find it very difficult to get a place in any of our sides.
His reverse swing and slower ball skills will not be missed as Gul has demonstrated that he is one of the very best exploiters of these qualities. His pace will not also be a miss as both Gul and Aamer are adequately fast enough. In most of our sides, barring injury, we will probably go with three main fast bowlers due to the strength of our all rounders and spinners. With Gul and Aamer a certainty, this leaves one place. That place will no doubt be taken by Mohammad Asif who will return from his ban on September the 22nd. He will be the perfect new ball partner for Aamer, with his ability to seam the ball early on.
If we need to make up overs in a match, our world class spinners can easily do this to give the above three pacers a break. Added to that, an all rounder such as Razzaq, Rana or even Arafat can contribute should more pace be required. Shoaib loses out here because of the fact that he is just a bowler.
Shoaib failed to turn up for a fitness test for the one day series which follows the Sri lankan Tests, citing the illness of his mother. The fact that he is a disruptive influence and hardly fit, it will be better to pick reliable players in order to have a steady team selection. It looks as if Shoaib’s fate is sealed
Shoaib still feels he’s got “three-four good years left” in him. Looking at the reasons discussed, Bollywood awaits, time for Shoaib Akhtar to become Shoaib the Actor. What a waste.
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July 20th, 2009 at 12:48 am
Man the end of Akhtar was 4 years ago.. when his knees gave up then he should have called it quits on a high after leading Pak to a series win against England.. he’s just gone on too long and made a fool out of himself.. the board and management have been bigger fools by going back to him!
July 20th, 2009 at 5:00 am
I agree with Q his end happened four years ago.
We should stick with Aamer and Gul I am also not in favor of selecting Asif he is even worse than Shoaib.
Shoaib Akhtar does not have any integrity, any self respect other wise he should have retired himself at least two years ago he uses all kinds of pressures to get back in the team.
He is probably threatening PCB to sue them for releasing his medical records if they don’t select him.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Yes guys but he is still around. What I’m asking is whether he should be selected when fit or even considered. I just have a bad feeling he will be in and around our team again.
I think Asif will have learnt. Wit the influence of Shoaib no longer there, he will be on he straight and narrow.
July 20th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Stani
Shoaib should not be considered at all, now PCB should only make plans to give him a farewell series. I think they should start talking to him about it.
Do you think that Shoaib influenced Asif for all his wrong doings, I don’t think so, and I seriously believe Asif is done he should be allowed to play in the domestic season first to assess hs form and fitness maybe with the Pakistan A team and if found fit only then he should be recalled for the National team, I seriously don’t agree with the plans of PCB to consider him straight for selection for the Champions trophy.
I think the fans should be very cautious in supporting him as if he comes back and does the same things again or fails to show any form then we will have to share equal blame with PCB.
We have done the same with Shoaib so many times hoping that he will make amends but when he failed we never admit that as fans we wanted him to make a come back, we only criticize PCB and the selectors.
I think the focus should be on developing some of the younger guys.
July 20th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Wasim,
The current crop of youngster have been quite disappointing until Aamer turned up. They’ve had a fair chance in the recent past but haven’t done much.
I don’t think it was all Akhtar’s influence but a large part of it yes. I think if we do away with Akhtar now, it will also serve as a example to Asif on what will happen if you don’t take your talents seriously.
I would give Asif one more chance because of his background. He doesn’t seem very educated and thus liable to fall foul of the laws which govern the game. Also, he is a very different personality to Akhtar which should give us increased hope that he, unlike Akhtar, has it within him to change. I think Akhtar is predisposed to being bad but can be good sometimes. This means that he will always go back to his bad ways. Asif however, is predisposed to being good but is sometimes influenced to become bad. I think the nature of both are different hence the hope that Asif will fix up.
I think your idea of a farewell game/series would be an amicable method of parting ways. The problem is, will Shoaib agree?
Did Asif’s ban include domestic matches?
July 21st, 2009 at 5:32 am
Stani if a player is banned under doping laws he is barred from playing any kind of official cricket for the term of his sentence.
Most of us under estimate Asif he looks like a simpleton with a very mild personality but believe me he is far from it. He is still doing every thing what Akhtar is renowned for, it’s just that he remains under the radar.
He is having his flings with cheap stage and lollywood actresses, once an addict is always an addict, I am not talking about nandrolone I am talking about opium.
His body is too weak to handle the stress of test cricket without taking those stimulants he will continue to break down like Akhtar thats the downside of using drugs for a long period of time.
It’s true most of the youngsters have already gotten a chance and have failed to impress, but I think some of them got a chance too early, Talha and Sohail Khan are the biggest examples they are both extremely successful at the domestic level but failed at the International level, you know why because both of them had just pace and no movement they could have been turned into lethal bowlers if proper training and coaching was provided to them before giving them a chance at International level.
We spend so much money on the advisors to the Chairman but can’t hire Wasim or Waqar on interim basis to coach our young bowlers it’s a shame. There are a few more Youngsters who are pretty good and they performed well in the last few domestic tournaments I forgot their names but one plays from Lahore and the other one plays for Stallions.
But as of now between Gul, Tanvir, Razzak, Aamer, Rauf and Rao we have a good attack, we should not allow Tanvir to get wasted he can bowl he is just out of rythym.
July 21st, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Wasim,
It will be difficult for them to then pick Asif if he has not played any games. The champions trophy is just a few days after his ban finishes.
If what you say about him is true, then I am surprised he has not learned yet. He should realise how privileged he is in a country where most people struggle for water and electricity, for him to live like that would be a disgrace especially where he has come from.
You make a good point about our youngsters catching the eye because of their pace at domestic level but not be able to handle the multi-dimensional demands of international cricket. I have doubts about the quality of our domestic game though.
I agree about Tanvir. He just needs to sort his control out and he’ll be back to his devastating best. He has one of the best slower balls in the game. I’m not sure about Rauf yet though.
July 21st, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Stani
It was in the news Asif has married actress Veena Malik, he was having a fling with her for now quite some time, Players have a right to their private life but he has a way of life which doesn’t suit fast bowlers, his addiction and other activities on top of that he hasn’t played any official cricket he has been training in UK, I don’t know how fit and ready he will be, he needs to be tried in a domestic tournament before he is recalled.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Wasim,
Yes, sports personalities need to remain professional if they are serious about what they do.
I did hear he came over here to play club cricket. Not sure how much he played. Depending on the squad size, he may still be taken to South Africa.