Shoaib Akhtar - MatchWinner or Liability at the World Cup?

[Saj]

The enigma that is Shoaib Akhtar has of course been selected for the World Cup, much to the pleasure of many of his fans.

Its been a relatively quiet period in Akhtar's career and he has been on his best behaviour since the new code of conduct has been enforced by the PCB.

Sensing that next month's World Cup is his last chance to play in a major tournament, Akhtar has worked hard and impressed team mates, coaching staff and selectors alike.

However the first one day international against New Zealand showed that when Akhtar has a "bad day at the office", it's generally disastrous and causes problems for the captain and the balance of the team.

I was speaking to Mudassar Nazar yesterday (full interview to follow), and he had some major concerns about Akhtar, mainly surrounding the fact that he has been playing very little cricket of late and hasn't played any domestic cricket at all this season. He's very concerned about Akhtar's fitness levels and said that you can't use international matches to regain match fitness, you need to be match fit before the match.

The issue is that how can a cricketer be match fit when he is not playing any cricket in between international matches?

I'm not saying that Akhtar should have played in every match he could for KRL when he wasn't playing for Pakistan but surely he could have played in some matches.

The problem is that it takes Akhtar a few matches to get "match fit" as we have seen in New Zealand.

I sincerely hope that Waqar's putting in the hours with him and they are putting him through some sort of fitness program ahead of the World Cup meaning that he is match fit for the tournament.


http://www.pakpassion.net/gallery/files/1/9/5/3/2/IMG_0010.jpg

[talha3]

Matchwinner. On his day can destroy the opposition. Though if he's not 100% fit, he shouldn't play.

[MAJID-SHAH]

Matchwinner. On his day can destroy the opposition. Though if he's not 100% fit, he shouldn't play.

KABOOSH!..the nail has been hit right on the head there. :akhtar:akhtar

[Energy]

Hafeez has the answer in the background! Akhtar, you've got to put the results together for the final investment that we have made in you. Wish you good luck.

Definitely a match-winner there can hardly be a doubt about that. But needs match practice as is well advertised.

[161]

Whats more important .. winning this series or winning the world cup ?

Not a difficult question.

Akhtar should play all remaining matches of this series.

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Shoaib isn't and never was a one day bowler. You can give him the new ball in seaming conditions and he is just as likely to give the opposition a flying start as he is to knock over early wickets. He bowls the same as if the ball is 40 overs old and reverse swinging instead of hitting the off stump and letting the new ball do the work. He will have a couple of good matches but I am pretty sure he will let us down big style in a crucial game with his attempts to bowl lunatic inswingers early on.

[NJamal]

Whats more important .. winning this series or winning the world cup ?

Not a difficult question.

Akhtar should play all remaining matches of this series.

And what if he is not fully fit at the moment to play in this series. Your hate for Afridi blinds your wisdom. The coach and the captain knows better than us about their player's fitness level.

[RehanG]

SHoiab = 50% fit destroys opposition .. and if 100% kills them...

[Leonidos]

He is a match winner.10000000000000000000000000 times better than sohail tanveer.

[Energy]

A real real dilemma on the cards now it seems.

1) Akhtar is not match-fit. Give him more matches to regain fitness.
2) On the other hand, do not play him in many games since he is fragile.

[haroonrasheed320]

Definite match winner but if he is not fit he shouldn't play, because we can't afford to be lose a bowler in an ongoing match after he bowls 2.4 overs. This has happened before with Akhtar he has come into a match with injuries & then has to leave the playing field due to the injury.

[90MPH]

I have question marks on him, not only has he lost his potent outswinger but he does not bowl to a plan - either its too full or too short at times. He needs to play the remaining ODIs to make a good judgement.

[161]

And what if he is not fully fit at the moment to play in this series. Your hate for Afridi blinds your wisdom. The coach and the captain knows better than us about their player's fitness level.

He bowled 90mph in the first ODI .. how much more fit do you want him ?

Your love for Afridi blinds you .. don't believe a word of the bakwaas that comes out of his mouth.

[dblock]

Think we can say he is both ... Depends which one turns up on the day.

[Sir john]

he is both

[Desi_Joker]

Recently, a massive liability. Living on past success... doesn't even look good enough for domestic cricket anymore

[161]

Shoaib isn't and never was a one day bowler. You can give him the new ball in seaming conditions and he is just as likely to give the opposition a flying start as he is to knock over early wickets. He bowls the same as if the ball is 40 overs old and reverse swinging instead of hitting the off stump and letting the new ball do the work. He will have a couple of good matches but I am pretty sure he will let us down big style in a crucial game with his attempts to bowl lunatic inswingers early on.

Unfortunately we don't have any better option.

Whilst Razzaq and Tanvir can make some use of helpful condition in NZ their gentle pace will get murdered on flat Asian tracks.

[talha3]

Think we can say he is both ... Depends which one turns up on the day.

Very true. You rarely see a day where he gives a tidy 0-40 off 10 overs. It's either 3-20 or 1-57.

[*sallu*]

Why can't he be both?

[talha3]

Why can't he be both?

Well throughout a tournament he can be both but on the day he can only be one. The question is, which Shoaib Akhtar will most likely turn up when Pakistan most need him?

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Why can't he be both?

Because he doesn't bowl with any discipline, just depends how he feels on the day.

[emclub]

LIABILITY big time.............I just hope I am wrong

[Markhor]

I think Shoaib Akhtar knows that he is reaching the end of his career.I cannot see him playing in the years after the World Cup.Again,we talk about long-term planning,where does Akhtar fit in ?

Our bowling attack is so weak that we have to play him and risk him.I have my doubts as to whether he can retain his fitness in hot and humid,flat,sub-continent wickets.

[Monsee]

Lately it seems, when he is bad, he tries his hardest to be the worst of the worst...and his really good days have been few and far in between!

In the past when he had a good day, he would destroy the opposition...these days when he has a bad day, he makes certain (intentionally, I hope not) that there is only one winner i.e. the opposing team!

If he does not want to play all the three remaining ODIs, he should be kicked out of the team for WC too because on Asian flat pitches, he will be like cannon fodder for most teams with his line-n-length all over the place.

[Afridi_Fan]

I would like to have Akhtar in place of Tanveer. Akhtar is a proven match-winner.

[Desi_Joker]

I would like to have Akhtar in place of Tanveer. Akhtar is a proven has been match-winner.

Fixed. :akhtar

[cricwiz]

The enigma that is Shoaib Akhtar has of course been selected for the World Cup, much to the pleasure of many of his fans.

Its been a relatively quiet period in Akhtar's career and he has been on his best behaviour since the new code of conduct has been enforced by the PCB.

Sensing that next month's World Cup is his last chance to play in a major tournament, Akhtar has worked hard and impressed team mates, coaching staff and selectors alike.

However the first one day international against New Zealand showed that when Akhtar has a "bad day at the office", it's generally disastrous and causes problems for the captain and the balance of the team.

I was speaking to Mudassar Nazar yesterday (full interview to follow), and he had some major concerns about Akhtar, mainly surrounding the fact that he has been playing very little cricket of late and hasn't played any domestic cricket at all this season. He's very concerned about Akhtar's fitness levels and said that you can't use international matches to regain match fitness, you need to be match fit before the match.

The issue is that how can a cricketer be match fit when he is not playing any cricket in between international matches?

I'm not saying that Akhtar should have played in every match he could for KRL when he wasn't playing for Pakistan but surely he could have played in some matches.

The problem is that it takes Akhtar a few matches to get "match fit" as we have seen in New Zealand.

I sincerely hope that Waqar's putting in the hours with him and they are putting him through some sort of fitness program ahead of the World Cup meaning that he is match fit for the tournament.


http://www.pakpassion.net/gallery/files/1/9/5/3/2/IMG_0010.jpg

Everyone knows (including Akhtar) that this is going to be his last WorldCup (and most probably his last ODI appearences in Pakistan colors)...

So, since last many months (more than an year), Akhtar has just been making himself more and more fit just for the WorldCup. There is noticeably a huge difference in his fitness levels an year before and now. The thing Mudassar Nazar is suggesting is probably dangerous for Akhtar's career. I am saying this because such a domestic season can mean some sort of injury for Akhtar, because he is officially over 35 (and may mean he is around 37-38)...

He most probably is going to retire from ODI & Test cricket after the World (and would only play T20 cricket, if some lucrative offers comes his way).

But having said this all, one thing is for sure... he is just focusing on WorldCup (all his cool & calm discipline shows his grit and determination). I am quite hopeful that Shoaib is saving his best for the coming Worldcup...

[*sallu*]

I know one thing for sure

Shoaib Akhtar >>>>>>>>>>> Sohail Tanvir

[Down2Earth]

akhtar ahead of sami, sohail tanvir, rana any day of the week. he will win us the world cup. he was bowling 95.6mph in meaningless t20's against england, imagine what he'll be like in the world cup :akhtar reverse swing will be key, this world cup is ours.

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I know one thing for sure

Shoaib Akhtar >>>>>>>>>>> Sohail Tanvir

I don't think either are the best option for the World Cup. I would prefer someone who can make use of the new ball and can bowl a tight line at reasonable pace. Ahmed Tanvir might have been useful in the ODI format.

[Rana]

Akhtar was pakistan's leading wicket taker last year and he is 35 years old!

He is mainly a 'wicket taker'. He gets top order wickets, not tail. If Akhtar can be used like Bret lee, removing the early key wickets and then rested for the middle overs, pakistan will most probably be winning every game!

[Rana]

My main concern is Akhtar's batting, he used to be quite handy around 4 years ago! Hif feilding and batting let him down nowadays.

[saeedhk]

a liability recently

[Down2Earth]

for god's sake he bats at 11

[Rana]

for god's sake he bats at 11

He was a very decent number 9, its just like he forgot how to handle himself out there!

[Down2Earth]

now we've got a stronger tail, akhtar can focus on his bowling, he doesn't need to bat. if he's required to bat, chances are that we've lost the match anyway

[Blitz]

Something is missing.

Ever since he made this comeback, from Eng ODIs and then SA ODI's, he's looked an average bowler, and THAT, he has never been.

I can't recall a single 5'for, not even a 4 wicket haul. He was always looking for wickets.

Now he hopes for wickets. The spark is gone.

[Amjid Javed]

Akthar always has been a match winner and still is and should be in the start x1 for the world cup!

[*sallu*]

Exactly, you can't play it so safe in the bowling.

I mean we are already playing Razzaq, Hafeez, Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul and Tanvir, none of whom are likely to (apart from Gul) bowl a devastating spell, and Akhtar is.

Simple as that, you can't win a world cup without playing a match winner in the bowling department, and like it or not, Shoaib Akhtar is the biggest "available" match winner in Pakistan right now in the bowling department

[w8in_4_0402]

Matchwinner.

I would rather have him in than Sohail.

Sometimes he just tries to hard and when he smacked around he loses interest imo.

[w8in_4_0402]

Exactly, you can't play it so safe in the bowling.

I mean we are already playing Razzaq, Hafeez, Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul and Tanvir, none of whom are likely to (apart from Gul) bowl a devastating spell, and Akhtar is.

Simple as that, you can't win a world cup without playing a match winner in the bowling department, and like it or not, Shoaib Akhtar is the biggest "available" match winner in Pakistan right now in the bowling department

after a week we will know if the best bowler available will be at the WC.

[Mobashir]

Shoaib Akhtar should be back in the 5th and 6th match of this series in place of Umar Gul who has seal his spot in the starting XI for the world cup.
I will play Wahab and Sohail Tanvir all matches here because they both don't look really fir/prepared to play in a world cup.
Then my attack will be Akhtar-Gul-best between Tanvir/Wahab.
No way Shoaib Akhtar should be dropped from the team, at least now. If he bowls poorly for 2-3 matches then we can think about dropping him.

My prediction is Shoaib Akhtar will be brilliant troughout the world cup, a real star, a match winner.:akhtar

[tahir_dj]

comon guys he had proved him self to be a match winner, it was only that first match he got smashed and the reason for that is when the score is so low to defend all the psycological advantage is with the batting side and they play freely so why blaming him for that,, look at t20 he was brilliant,

[Rana]

Guptill fancies his bowling, but a lot of batsmen in the world rather see him bowl from the dressing room!

[Wasim_Waqar]

I would like to see Guptill face Shoaib on a proper-sized cricket ground.

Use Shoaib wisely and he will do well for Pakistan in the World Cup.

Matchwinner

[Wasim_Waqar]

Blitz, I think he claimed a 4-fer at Lord's v England- instrumental in that win

edit- three-fer but instrumental

[Kray_jackson7]

Matchwinner

Shouldnt even be asked, he is valuable for this world cup

[tahir_dj]

I would like to see Guptill face Shoaib on a proper-sized cricket ground.

Use Shoaib wisely and he will do well for Pakistan in the World Cup.

Matchwinner

Excatly that shows Kiwi grounds are one of the worst.. if people like guptil can hit that many sixes with flick of a wrist. and why everyone is forgetting the pitches they had to play on without any match practice... shoibi is the best in business and which other bowler bowls nearly 95mph at the age of 35.. he just need to get his confidence back and the only way he is gona get that is when the team gona play him every match not when him thinking 'O if i dont perform i will be dropped' does any one remmber what Abdul Razzaq said after his 100 against SA that senior players shouldnt have any knife hanging on their heads about being dropped because they have proven themselves over the years to be match winner. and thats how you can get the best out of them

[ITGuy]

Not using Akhtar in WC would be a big mistake IMO.

[Monsee]

Unless he gets some match practice under his belt soon, I can already imagine him leading Pakistan...out of the WC i.e. by bowling the ball all over the park!

You know your team is in trouble when your spearhead gets smacked around by average batsmen like Guptill and Co.

[Shayan_Sohail]

Haha at over reaction after one bad game, same thing happens with Gul as well whenever he has a bad game the "Umer Gul you're Aweful" thread gets a bump.

Lol at anyone who thinks Sohail Tanveer is better then Akhtar :akhtar

[Monsee]

^^^LOL at fanboys thinking there are people who think/say things like that...in order to defend Mr. Soon to be collecting Pension, one does not need to make things up out of desperation!

[The Blazer]

He bowled 90mph in the first ODI .. how much more fit do you want him ?


Your idiocy continues. Pace isn't a foolproof indicator of how fit an individual is.

You're the same person who, many moons ago, had the wisdom of saying that Pakistanis genetically put on weight once in their 20's, so I'll leave it at that.

[Desire]

comeon saj bhai!!! you cant expect a bowler to take wickets all the time. he bowls well upfront and take impotant wickets. At the moment he hasnt done so bad to get dropped from the team.

[Shayan_Sohail]

^^^LOL at fanboys thinking there are people who think/say things like that...in order to defend Mr. Soon to be collecting Pension, one does not need to make things up out of desperation!

Haha so the Umer Gul ur awful thread doesn't get a bump after a bad performance?

All these akhtar performance threads didn't get started after the last game?

If akhtar consistently performs bad then yes he has no place in the team I agree but his experience and skills should not be discounted after one bad game.

[emclub]

comeon saj bhai!!! you cant expect a bowler to take wickets all the time. he bowls well upfront and take impotant wickets. At the moment he hasnt done so bad to get dropped from the team.

:))) :))) :akhtar

[Desi_Joker]

^ :)) :))

[PB]

Liability..Playing just because of his name..

[PAF]

Liability..Playing just because of his name..
Lol, you'll regret what you just said. Wait until the WC starts. :akhtar

[PB]

Lol, you'll regret what you just said. Wait until the WC starts. :akhtar

We'll see..

[kkmix]

I am still undecided whether he will be a liability or match winner, at this point in time, he is a liability but I have a feeling he will have a big role to play in the world cup. I am not sure.

[waqar_ahmad]

Akhtar shouldnt play all the matches on the WC. Pick and choose, play him in important matches only.

As for being a match winner, he is a bigger match winner than the rest of the bowling attack combined. An attack of Sohail Tanvir, Razi, Gul......ummm I dont think so

[alexjohn_tcr]

Akthar must play ahead of the likes of Tanvir. Akthar is an intelligent bowler .He may go for runs on somedays.But he is a wicket taking bowler.That is the key

[sanakazmi]

biggest matchwinner we have in terms of our bowling. upset he's not playing this game.

[*sallu*]

Im sure he'll start in the world cup sk.

Give his injury stricken history I'm sure the management is taking no chances

[sanakazmi]

seriously, how is tanvir playing ahead of shoaib? i guess he IS in the wc squad and hasn't bowled for a while, so needs practice but really aaagh.

[sanakazmi]

Im sure he'll start in the world cup sk.

Give his injury stricken history I'm sure the management is taking no chances

yeah, you're right. he HAS to play in the wc. i think i read somewhere that afridi said shoaib will only play selected matches in the wc, that they wanted to use him carefully, etc. i don't really agree with that.

though i suppose letting tanvir practice is also importance. i don't really know what tanvir is doing on this tour - he doesn't seem ready. but inshallah he'll find some sort of form...

[*sallu*]

Yeah, and I think its a blessing in disguise that he is getting a phainty here

[Desire]

feel sorry for him. sohail tanveer can bowl rubbish and be afridi's best buddy but shoaib just one bad day and he is off. what a poor selection.

[Kray_jackson7]

feel sorry for him. sohail tanveer can bowl rubbish and be afridi's best buddy but shoaib just one bad day and he is off. what a poor selection.

LOOOLLL! you think thats whats happening? they are just making sure akhtar doesnt injure himself ahead of the world cup in a small series Vs new zealand

[hur rizvi]

Its good that we have got the lesson by phainty that tanveer got that shoaib is the best bowler ...


He was very good against england apart from 1st and 2nd match

He was very good against SA apart from last match

So apart from few matches shoaib has been pretty decent .... He's still a match winner + he brings some passion into the team

[pakistanvilla]

Am i missing something? why isn't he playing?
:akhtar:akhtar:akhtar:akhtar

[adzzy786]

.

[Syndrome]

Yeah, you're missing a space in one of your smileys.

[adzzy786]

Because hes not 'fit' and pakistan dont realise he should play in these matches to get fit for the world cup

[pakistanvilla]

He should be playing...best bowler and most dangerous, pakistan really need to sort out another akhtar speed bowler

[emclub]

Yes you are missing Shoaib Akhtar

[Mr.Awesome<(-_-)>]

Yes you are missing Shoaib Akhtar

So am i, Kick Tanvir out not gd enuf

[Zaz]

Something is missing.

Ever since he made this comeback, from Eng ODIs and then SA ODI's, he's looked an average bowler, and THAT, he has never been.

I can't recall a single 5'for, not even a 4 wicket haul. He was always looking for wickets.

Now he hopes for wickets. The spark is gone.

I agree, in the past in his good days hed absolutely destroy the opposition with a 5fer. Now on a good day he ll pick up a couple of wkts max

It definetly looks like the fire that made his bowling what it was is missing. Hes avged 35 over the last yr

[sunny_155]

:akhtar Akhter was and will be the brilliant bowler of all time, he got to prove something to everyone to show his real talent, remember he is capable of reverse swing and quick bowling, watch out everyone, Rawalpindi Express is coming...

[SAF]

Okay. I will be waiting.

[PakPrince]

aajkal Rawalpindi express ka wohi haal hai jo Pakistan ki baaki subs trains ka haal hain

[Afridi_Fan]

I like how fans (both Pakistani and Non Pakistanis) are not rating Akhtar much in the WC. This will get tasty. :akhtar

[pakistanbest]

Akhtar has kept his best for the WC, him, Gul and Wahab will be lethal, Akhtar just like Afridi can never be written off :)

Am backing him to be in the top 5 wicket takers of the WC

Pindi Express will arrive in India on April 2nd :)

[cricnut]

Guptill and Ryder would love to face Akhtar once again

[Afridi_Fan]

Guptill and Ryder would love to face Akhtar once again

Darling, the grounds won't be of kid's playground size.

[PB]

Akhtar has kept his best for the WC, him, Gul and Wahab will be lethal, Akhtar just like Afridi can never be written off :)

Am backing him to be in the top 5 wicket takers of the WC

Pindi Express will arrive in India on April 2nd :)

Afridi is 16..Akhtar is 35..

[SAF]

Guptill and Ryder would love to face Akhtar once again

Lol and the same goes with God Sachin. You know how much he loves facing the Pindi Express. :D

[freelance_cricketer]

Not the bowler to fear anymore, never seen people hitting more fours and sixes against him like i have seen in last few months. But he can still be useful. But yes, now the bowler to fear anymore

Mallinga i am looking forward too

[emclub]

I like how fans (both Pakistani and Non Pakistanis) are not rating Akhtar much in the WC. This will get tasty. :akhtar

I have seen so many Akhtar threads in last 2 weeks, Akhtar is this Akhtar is that.......... what are you talking about no one is rating him??

[Afridi_Fan]

I have seen so many Akhtar threads in last 2 weeks, Akhtar is this Akhtar is that.......... what are you talking about no one is rating him??

Theek hai yaar, theek hai.

[Ryankhan]

AKhtar will prove to be a danger man with his pace n his passion. he will rock the place

[Down2Earth]

he will win us this world cup, those who deny that are delusional :inti

[161 KPH]

I really hope he can shine at the world cup. Seeing as he hasn't got long left in his career it would be great to see Akhtar go out in style :akhtar

[yahyah86]

All aboard, get on quick its the Rawalpindi Express.

Akhtar you champion you

[Impala_KaifTamasha]

:akhtar MatchWinner :akhtar