cricket_crazy
30th January 2005, 22:59
Misconduct, fitness problems dampen
Shoaib’s chances for India tour
By Waheed Khan
KARACHI: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar who returned home midway from the Australian tour carrying a hamstring strain injury should consider himself lucky if he makes the touring squad for the next month’s high-profile tour of India.
Because according to the inside information gathered by ‘The News’, the 29-year-old does not rate very high on the popularity list of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer.
"The circumstances in which Shoaib has returned home do not augur well for him. Another breakdown due to fitness problems, his failure to come through in Australia as a match winner and question marks over his personal conduct are all issues which are presently being looked at seriously by the authority in the context of the Indian tour," a source in PCB disclosed.
According to him, Inzamam, Woolmer and manager Haroon Rasheed had already conveyed their negative feelings about the fast bowler’s form and conduct to the PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan.
"They have narrated several instances where Shoaib had insisted on doing his own thing and not going along with the team policy. For example he chose to drive to the practice sessions when the others walked it to the ground," the source said.
"There is every possibility that with Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed expected to be fit for the Indian tour, Inzamam (if he stays on as captain) and Woolmer might not push for Shoaib’s selection for the Indian tour," the source informed.
He stated that although Shaharyar had publicly tried to defend the pacer’s conduct in Australia concerning his alleged visits to nightclubs and bars during the matches, yet privately he is neither happy with Shoaib’s behaviour nor with his role as a team man.
Shoaib, who has not won a match for Pakistan since his 10 wickets against New Zealand in December 2003 in the second Test at Wellington, rubbed a lot of people the wrong way by insisting he would not reduce his run-up in Australia despite the advice of Woolmer and even former great Imran Khan who urged him to concentrate on line and length for the sake of preserving his energy.
Shoaib made things difficult for himself by likening his long run-up to a ‘jet-plane’ take off —a remark which later became the butt of many jokes/sarcastic remarks among the TV commentators, in the Australian and Pakistan media when he broke down.
Having taken 11 wickets in the first two Tests at Perth and Melbourne (including two five-wicket hauls), Shoaib enhanced his reputation of not lasting out any full series by bowling just 15 overs in the third Test at Sydney and struggling with a hamstring strain.
To make matters worse for himself he limped off after sending down just 2.5 overs in a VB Series game against the West Indies at Brisbane after which the decision to cut his tour short was taken.
Shoaib’s tour of Australia took a turn for the worse when a section of media splashed his photographs —supposedly taken during the third Test —partying at a nightclub and bar.
‘The Sydney Herald’ kick started this controversy by carrying a story about how the Pakistani bowler was seen at some nightspots during the third Test when he was said to be carrying a hamstring injury.
Shoaib, who has taken 144 Test and 186 One-day International wickets, has defended himself by claiming the pictures were all ‘fakes’ and computer generated gizmos. He says he only visited a restaurant during the Test. He has also defended his form and fitness by insisting he had been bowling without any support from the other end and that the batting was equally to blame for letting the team down time and again.
"Why are no questions raised about the commitment of Inzamam when he missed two Tests due to a back injury from which he made a quick recovery for the one-dayers or when Abdul Razzaq fell ill in the second Test —contributing nothing and missing the third Test also with a mysterious illness," a strong supporter of Shoaib questioned.
"You look at the performances of our players in the last one year and PCB and critics should, instead of just blaming Shoaib, also find out just how many matches have been won by the other seniors like Inzamam, Youhana or Razzaq," he asked.
"Shoaib and Sami had the Australians reeling on 5 for 78 on the first day of the Perth Test but since they didn’t have any proper support from the other bowlers and the batsmen again failed, we lost. So why just blame Shoaib for everything that goes wrong."
Surprisingly for a man who is said to be more of an individual than a team man relishing his opportunity to bask in the media spotlight at the cost of irritating his teammates, Shoaib gets a lot of praise from the younger members of the team.
"He is very good with us and very cooperative. He is not a bad person and is always encouraging and helping us. But yes he does have this thing of living life in the fast lane something which does not suit the management and our culture," a younger member of the side, not wishing to be identified, said.
His supporters also point out that Woolmer or Inzamam had no business going public with their move to reduce his run-up and this was something, which they could have discussed with him (Shoaib) privately.
"Look, his personal lifestyle should not bother anyone many of our former stars have been bigger playboys. But they never came under fire because they performed as well. The only problem with Shoaib is that he is not performing to the level one would expect him to at this stage of his chequered career."
Whatever the next few weeks have in store for Shoaib, what is clear is that at present he is not a favourite of many people to make the Indian tour despite his clear ability to win matches for Pakistan with his sheer pace and skill to unnerve world’s best batsmen.
Shoaib’s chances for India tour
By Waheed Khan
KARACHI: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar who returned home midway from the Australian tour carrying a hamstring strain injury should consider himself lucky if he makes the touring squad for the next month’s high-profile tour of India.
Because according to the inside information gathered by ‘The News’, the 29-year-old does not rate very high on the popularity list of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer.
"The circumstances in which Shoaib has returned home do not augur well for him. Another breakdown due to fitness problems, his failure to come through in Australia as a match winner and question marks over his personal conduct are all issues which are presently being looked at seriously by the authority in the context of the Indian tour," a source in PCB disclosed.
According to him, Inzamam, Woolmer and manager Haroon Rasheed had already conveyed their negative feelings about the fast bowler’s form and conduct to the PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan.
"They have narrated several instances where Shoaib had insisted on doing his own thing and not going along with the team policy. For example he chose to drive to the practice sessions when the others walked it to the ground," the source said.
"There is every possibility that with Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed expected to be fit for the Indian tour, Inzamam (if he stays on as captain) and Woolmer might not push for Shoaib’s selection for the Indian tour," the source informed.
He stated that although Shaharyar had publicly tried to defend the pacer’s conduct in Australia concerning his alleged visits to nightclubs and bars during the matches, yet privately he is neither happy with Shoaib’s behaviour nor with his role as a team man.
Shoaib, who has not won a match for Pakistan since his 10 wickets against New Zealand in December 2003 in the second Test at Wellington, rubbed a lot of people the wrong way by insisting he would not reduce his run-up in Australia despite the advice of Woolmer and even former great Imran Khan who urged him to concentrate on line and length for the sake of preserving his energy.
Shoaib made things difficult for himself by likening his long run-up to a ‘jet-plane’ take off —a remark which later became the butt of many jokes/sarcastic remarks among the TV commentators, in the Australian and Pakistan media when he broke down.
Having taken 11 wickets in the first two Tests at Perth and Melbourne (including two five-wicket hauls), Shoaib enhanced his reputation of not lasting out any full series by bowling just 15 overs in the third Test at Sydney and struggling with a hamstring strain.
To make matters worse for himself he limped off after sending down just 2.5 overs in a VB Series game against the West Indies at Brisbane after which the decision to cut his tour short was taken.
Shoaib’s tour of Australia took a turn for the worse when a section of media splashed his photographs —supposedly taken during the third Test —partying at a nightclub and bar.
‘The Sydney Herald’ kick started this controversy by carrying a story about how the Pakistani bowler was seen at some nightspots during the third Test when he was said to be carrying a hamstring injury.
Shoaib, who has taken 144 Test and 186 One-day International wickets, has defended himself by claiming the pictures were all ‘fakes’ and computer generated gizmos. He says he only visited a restaurant during the Test. He has also defended his form and fitness by insisting he had been bowling without any support from the other end and that the batting was equally to blame for letting the team down time and again.
"Why are no questions raised about the commitment of Inzamam when he missed two Tests due to a back injury from which he made a quick recovery for the one-dayers or when Abdul Razzaq fell ill in the second Test —contributing nothing and missing the third Test also with a mysterious illness," a strong supporter of Shoaib questioned.
"You look at the performances of our players in the last one year and PCB and critics should, instead of just blaming Shoaib, also find out just how many matches have been won by the other seniors like Inzamam, Youhana or Razzaq," he asked.
"Shoaib and Sami had the Australians reeling on 5 for 78 on the first day of the Perth Test but since they didn’t have any proper support from the other bowlers and the batsmen again failed, we lost. So why just blame Shoaib for everything that goes wrong."
Surprisingly for a man who is said to be more of an individual than a team man relishing his opportunity to bask in the media spotlight at the cost of irritating his teammates, Shoaib gets a lot of praise from the younger members of the team.
"He is very good with us and very cooperative. He is not a bad person and is always encouraging and helping us. But yes he does have this thing of living life in the fast lane something which does not suit the management and our culture," a younger member of the side, not wishing to be identified, said.
His supporters also point out that Woolmer or Inzamam had no business going public with their move to reduce his run-up and this was something, which they could have discussed with him (Shoaib) privately.
"Look, his personal lifestyle should not bother anyone many of our former stars have been bigger playboys. But they never came under fire because they performed as well. The only problem with Shoaib is that he is not performing to the level one would expect him to at this stage of his chequered career."
Whatever the next few weeks have in store for Shoaib, what is clear is that at present he is not a favourite of many people to make the Indian tour despite his clear ability to win matches for Pakistan with his sheer pace and skill to unnerve world’s best batsmen.