Shoaib Akhtar Targets Twenty/20 World Cup

[Saj]

Speaking earlier today to PakPassion.net team mates of Shoaib Akhtar at KRL were quoted as saying that the Rawalpindi Express is determined to prove his critics wrong and very keen to find a spot in the Pakistan squad for the Twenty/20 World Cup which takes place in the Caribbean in April and May of this year.

"We have heard that he will shortly be joining the KRL training camp which started today and will be available for the 50 over domestic competition that starts next month".

Akhtar who last represented Pakistan in May 2009 during a Twenty/20 international against Australia in Dubai, was not present today at the start of the training camp in Rawalpindi, but is expected to join the camp ahead of what he hopes will be a successful domestic stint for KRL.

Akhtar's team mates were also quoted as saying "Akhtar believes he has been written off too soon and by too many and he wants to make a comeback to the national team. He wants to work hard on his fitness and play regularly for KRL in the coming weeks and to take part in the training camp. He feels that he still has something to offer the Pakistan team".

It remains to be seen whether the selectors once again show faith in Akhtar whose career has been dogged by injuries. One cold say that he has had one chance too many, but with Umar Gul struggling for form of late, Akhtar could once again find himslef back in favour.

http://www.pakpassion.net/gallery/files/5/ShoaibAkhtarinPPshirt.JPG

[Zu456]

he only has potential for t20 now he isnt fit enough for odis

[kkmix]

lol there is no place for him in T20 team specially...we are blessed with good fast bowlers.

[itduzz]

Akhtar should replace Gul

[PB]

Good for Akhtar, hope he comes back into the team..

Akhtar
Asif
Aamer
Afridi
Ajmal

What an attack. :P.

[kkmix]

Good for Akhtar, hope he comes back into the team..

Akhtar
Asif
Aamer
Afridi
Ajmal

What an attack. :P.
New kid, Hammad will replace either Asif or Akhter.

[Sohaib-789]

Great news. what an attack we will have when he makes it.

Akhtar
Asif
Aamer
Afridi
Rana

Great news for pakistan cricket. My prayers are with shoaib and his family hope he is selected inshallah.

[Sledger]

Wishful thinking but good on him for not giving up. :akhtar

[Dr. Khan]

Good for Akhtar, hope he comes back into the team..

Akhtar
Asif
Aamer
Afridi
Ajmal

What an attack. :P.

I do not know what world our players and supporters live in.
No wonder we can not move forward like other countries, we are too consumed with our past glories. Never have we heard of moving ahead and this is seen in the team selections, player attitudes, and worse yet blind support.

[critical]

woww i been waiting for an akhtar update good work saj

[Boundary]

Akhtar is working on a project in Islamabad, a business venture, i cant disclose all the information, but i'm sure you will find out in due course, good luck to him its a big plan and project!

That combined with his recovery is the reason while he is delaying training.

[Sohaib-789]

Good for Akhtar, hope he comes back into the team..

Akhtar
Asif
Aamer
Afridi
Ajmal

What an attack. :P.

Thats a great ODI bowling line up. inshallah we will get to see this on the england tour.

[161]

I don't think our bowling is as strong as people claim it is .. particularly in tests.

We could use a healthy Shoaib for our hectic summer in England.

But it is up to him to play some domestic cricket and get fit.

[sali]

Akhtar is always talking about the next series and how hard he will be working to make his place in the next big series. He will be again No Show. That's sad but true.

Pakistan really need some good pace to go along with Ameer and Asif. I hope Shoib and Sami wake up and realize this. I would love to see Shoib, Ameer, Asif, & Sami playing against Aus in UK and blowing them away with pace and swing. Oh well, probably not going to happen.

[the Great Khan]

great another washed up star trying to return.."yay kahani kub khutum go gi?"

[Atif]

I dont believe pakistan need Akhtar in team for 20/20 format or any other really. He will cause more problems.

[sehsan]

Akhtar is working on a project in Islamabad, a business venture, i cant disclose all the information, but i'm sure you will find out in due course, good luck to him its a big plan and project!

That combined with his recovery is the reason while he is delaying training.

Good for him, he should only concentrate on the project.

[Imr4n_Khan]

That's good news, we really need Shoaib Akhtar back especially for the World Cup in 2011. I hope when he makes a come back this time, he sticks around for at least til the end of the World Cup.

[Savak]

How much i have missed Akhtar all this while. My personal take is this. Akhtar was always central to the teams plans in 2007-2008, he was always being selected in the team eventually, but somehow the overall perception in the PCB, amongst the team mates is that he is just never going to play for Pakistan again. Worst of all, Gul has sort of now developed a sense of comfort that there is no one around to challenge his place in the team.

Akhtar has got to make a comeback if he is fully fit and ready, it will be good for our other pacers, competition is healthy believe me.

[BoomBoomAfridi]

LOL does this guy still think he can play international cricket!

His days are gone! I would love to see him again firing but realistically he is finished!

[coy0607]

say what you will about akhtar's attitude but he has always put his country before everything else, unlike most players who either gave up on pakistan for icl, or are busy planning the downfall of their captain.........and the way this team has been performing, why not give him a chance-theirs nothing to lose...really the only decent pacers we have are asif and aamer, and i dont think asif will be a great choice for t20 cricket

[*sallu*]

Can he even bowl over 130 clicks anymore?

[Zaad]

will his ego allow him to play under Afridi?

[Sledger]

Can he even bowl over 130 clicks anymore?Make no mistake, Shoaib is lightning. I wouldn't be surprised if he can still get up to 150 now and then, the man was born to bowl fast.

[pakboy93]

we need him back in the team NOW!

[AZ]

:))

[Tay'yab-Ali Malik]

I'm afraid our bowling has been found wanting when Aamir has been injured and gul out of form. We have had no decent back up. There is a lot of cricket to play this year. I have said this before even 75% fit akthar will be an asset. We need extra bowlers in England to ease the work load of aamir & Asif. In my view Sami did enough in Sydney to be given another opportunity.

Aamir
Asif
Sami
gul
akthar
rana
new face who deserves an opportunity Talha or Wahab

and that's the bench strength we should always have

[Sohaib-789]

Good to see the amount of support Shoaib has on PP. best of luck to him!!

[Sohaib-789]

I'm afraid our bowling has been found wanting when Aamir has been injured and gul out of form. We have had no decent back up. There is a lot of cricket to play this year. I have said this before even 75% fit akthar will be an asset. We need extra bowlers in England to ease the work load of aamir & Asif. In my view Sami did enough in Sydney to be given another opportunity.

Aamir
Asif
Sami
gul
akthar
rana
new face who deserves an opportunity Talha or Wahab

and that's the bench strength we should always have


Yaar how an you pick GUL :13:

bring some one better in like anwar ali/ mohammed arfan who are genuine swing/pace bowlers

[Zaz]

The likes of sami and akhter should just retire - for pakistans sake if not their own

[Geordie Ahmed]

Stay away Akhtar - we dont need you

Much rather give someone like Talha, Ali etc a try - atleast they will give us more years of service whereas Akhtar is only going downhill

[Raz]

Yes!!!!!! But only if Akhtar is bowling at express speeds.

[AZ]

he isn't, and won't be anytime soon.

[Dare2Dream]

The more competition the better, our bowling is overrated right now anyways, making Vettori and Siddle look like top bats.

[its.raja]

Nice to hear something from him. I hope he will prove his critics wrong this time and serve at least two more years. By the way is it his new pic?

[AZ]

nope, it's a very old picture.

[Saj]

nope, it's a very old picture.
very old ? No, it was taken last year at the NCA.

[AZ]

very old ? No, it was taken last year at the NCA.

in an Internet time frame :D

[critical]

Shoaib Akhtar is the Michael Jackson of Pakistan cricket

[Sohaib-789]

Shoaib Akhtar is the Michael Jackson of Pakistan cricket

in a good way or bad way ? :13:

[critical]

well both... similar to michael , shoaib has had highs and lows but no one has ever doubted his skill and talent. they havent been managed properly and allowed to stray of

[Sufian84]

make him captain and we will rise again.

[Ali888]

Gul is a complete disaster area. He just seems to lack any brain at all.

Shoaib Akhtar, Aamer and Rana would be a decent T20 line up

Keep Asif for Tests?ODIs

[Sledger]

in a good way or bad way ? :13:
because he's BAD, he's bad..

[KA$H]

make him skipper

[Tay'yab-Ali Malik]

Yaar how an you pick GUL :13:

bring some one better in like anwar ali/ mohammed arfan who are genuine swing/pace bowlers
Gul has performed and has lead our attack for several years. He was rubbish in the begining of the last 20/20 WC but when he got it together he was unplayable. He currently is low on confidence just like mitchell was in England. You just can't discard players like them you need to nurture them back to their best.

[cricketpassion]

I think Akhtar should be retired now .We already got enough drama's in team we dont need anymore .

[Savak]

Gul has performed and has lead our attack for several years. He was rubbish in the begining of the last 20/20 WC but when he got it together he was unplayable. He currently is low on confidence just like mitchell was in England. You just can't discard players like them you need to nurture them back to their best.

Hello, Mitchel Johnson got back in form after the ashes and even in the ashes he was no where near as bad as Gul has been for the last 8 months. Gul deserves to be dropped fair and square. We have other back up options available who deserve to be selected in place of an out of form bowler.

[adzzy786]

Akhtar, Asif, Amaer, Afridi, Ajmal ( The 5 A's) Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid lol

I cant wait to see Akhtar, I hope he gets 100% form and fitness

[Monsee]

He should target the Halwaai shop or Paraatha corner instead, he has a better chance at those two...cricket for him is only possible if played on a PC or in a masaala CopyWood movie

[Lethal]

Not sure about Akhtar.

We have a solid T20 team. Gul is the weak link at the moment but when it comes to T20 he is a different bowler. We'll see what happens.

Akhtar if he still has the pace only can play for Pakistan in this format.

[kingusama92]

It really doesn't make sense to have Akhtar in the team.

I would rather have Mohammad Asif. Akhtar is not a special T20 bowler anyways.

[Gabbar Singh]

Good luck to the man.

The world needs genuine quick bowlers like Lee, Bond, and Akhtar even if it's only in the limited overs game.

[JeeraBlade]

Mohammad Irfran and Shoaib Akhtar opening the bowling for KRL!

[afridi_captain]

make him captain and we will rise again.
What world do live in? haven't you seen enough of controversy when he just plays in the team. He has got too much ego and don't have many well wishers within the team. He is finished we don't more parties in the team as we have enough already.
We need to build the next generation of cricketers and give young bloods more chance.
SHOIB IS LONG GONE, AND WILL NOT RETURN EVEN IF GETS HIS FULL FITNESS BACK.

[Random Aussie]

Mohammad Irfran and Shoaib Akhtar opening the bowling for KRL!

You actually think he is going to play a game of cricket? :))

[Desire]

we need shoaib akhtar to not only come back but lead the pakistan side. He is a naturally aggressive player

[bantu]

Akthar ............... lol

[pak4life]

There is no way afridi would want this pile of rubbish in the squad for him team unity and hard work comes before anything else. Keep dreaming Mr.

[Splinter]

We only need Akhtar in the longer formats.. which he is nowhere near fit for.

[LovePak]

Good for Akhtar, hope he comes back into the team..

Akhtar
Asif
Aamer
Afridi
Ajmal

What an attack. :P.

I see a collapse coming! We need more all-rounders in our team, than just bowlers.

[Sohaib-789]

Hello, Mitchel Johnson got back in form after the ashes and even in the ashes he was no where near as bad as Gul has been for the last 8 months. Gul deserves to be dropped fair and square. We have other back up options available who deserve to be selected in place of an out of form bowler.

I totally agree Gul is out of form he should have a rest period for about 3 months and go back to domestic cricket. :wasim

[Dr_Bassim]

This must be a joke...
Akhtar, even if he returns will break down after the 1st match and go home.
Why waste money and invest in a lost cause :26:

[PeshwariNaan]

Shoaib Akhtarhad so much talent if he had played for Australia/India/England/South Africa he woule be an international superstar at the top of his game.

Unfortunatly he playued for Pakistan.

His genuine talent has gone to waste, most of the blame can be put squarley on his shoulders but the PCB did not help in any way.

Pakistan do not need him n ow, he is past it, and now he is looking back with regret and what could have been.

Pakistan team needs cricketers who have the work ethic of the Australians, from what I have seen the yougsters ahve this attitude but for some reason once they start playing for the national team, it goes downhill.

So in essence, Shoaib, thanks for your brief career, but it's too late for you.

[Amjid Javed]

Akthars still good enough to bowl 4 overs full of fire!

[Dr_Bassim]

Akthars still good enough to bowl 4 overs full of fire!

For one match :26:
and then break down again....
Worth it ?? :13:

[JeeraBlade]

You actually think he is going to play a game of cricket? :))

"a" game? Yes! :P

[SlowerBall]

No way keep this guy away from the team. We have better bowling options.

[Sohaib-789]

Bring him back ASAP the quicker the better. Inshallah allah will answer the prayer of all the fans wanting him to come back ameen.

[Dr_Bassim]

]Bring him back ASAP the quicker the better. Inshallah allah will answer the prayer of all the fans wanting him to come back ameen.[/B]

Not that i despise Akhtar or anything...
But when was the last time... Akhtar lasted a whole series ?? :13:

[Sohaib-789]

Not that i despise Akhtar or anything...
But when was the last time... Akhtar lasted a whole series ?? :13:

Does it matter if he lasts a whole series or 2/3 matches?
he will do better than gul and any other bowler. :pissed:
he is our best pace bowler and we as a team are nothing without him.

[Ryankhan]

Well i said the same thing last year that at which age SHOIAB is currently so its better for him to just concentrate on 20-20 only. cuz 20-20 is being played everywhere and im sure many english couties will come after him if he continues to play in 20-20 only cuz 20-20 is best for him and he only has to bowl 4 overs so AKHTAR in 20-20 would be great for pak and with his pace, oh my its gonna be awsome to watch him....with akhtar coming back we have got more stronger 20-20 team....AKhtar-Asif-Amir-Gul-Rana-Razzak-afridi-ajmal-Wahab Riaz-m.Talha

we can even give rest to either Amir or Asif for 20-20's cuz we got enough bowlers with good replacements. i personally want to see him play in 20-20 only.

[Killer Instinct]

A fit Shoaib Akhtar should walk into the team, doesn't matter at whose expense cos he is our best bowler when fit and he is a match winner

[Poison]

cos he's dead but no one believes it

Good call haha :afridi

But people don't realise that our bowling attack is still missing the spearhead. Akhtar needs to be back.

[pakmania]

We need someone to instill a bit of fear into the opposition and he provides that

Cmon iWarts ! You can do it !

[Cover Drive]

Good luck to Akhtar! I really hope that he comes back into the side.

[taaveez]

IF he's willing to behave, we can bring him back for a cameo here and there, but really use him to train our domestic bowlers in generating speed.

Waqar is living in Australia, and his priorities are all over the map. If Akhtar wants to stage a brief comeback, PCB should require him to focus on longer-term coaching in the domestic circuit.

[AZ]

Aamer, Asif, Rana, Gul, Riaz backed up by Ajmal, Afridi and Malik.

that is an excellent bowling lineup already, no need for Akhtar...people keep harping on for "express" pace, well Aamer fits that criteria.

[Liverpool_Faizan]

no need for akhtar

hes done. someone should put him out of his misery. he is useless.

[AZ]

no need for akhtar

hes done. someone should put him out of his misery. he is useless.

something like this perhaps?

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BSCb4eO0y-4&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BSCb4eO0y-4&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

:))

[Poison]

Aamer's still too fresh, he isn't experienced enough to know HOW to take wickets. Don't get me wrong he's a genuine superstar in the making, but he's still inexperienced; hence why his average is so high.

[Monsee]

Yep, we need him back so we can have Asif going back to his recent 'Super' ways, Aamir starts acting like an idiot with Muunh Bawaseer, rest of the team starts fighting (if there is not enough of that happening already,)...and then to top it all, he starts walking out on the team at the worst possible times (just like the 1-2 dozen times he must have done before)

We need him back so he can suck out any minute sense of dignity and respect left in the team as well as the Pak fans

[Sledger]

We need him back so he can suck out any minute sense of dignity and respect left in the team as well as the Pak fans
Don't think there's much to lose on that front. :moyo

[saamry]

Speaking earlier today to PakPassion.net team mates of Shoaib Akhtar at KRL were quoted as saying that the Rawalpindi Express is determined to prove his critics wrong and very keen to find a spot in the Pakistan squad for the Twenty/20 World Cup which takes place in the Caribbean in April and May of this year.

"We have heard that he will shortly be joining the KRL training camp which started today and will be available for the 50 over domestic competition that starts next month".

Akhtar who last represented Pakistan in May 2009 during a Twenty/20 international against Australia in Dubai, was not present today at the start of the training camp in Rawalpindi, but is expected to join the camp ahead of what he hopes will be a successful domestic stint for KRL.

Akhtar's team mates were also quoted as saying "Akhtar believes he has been written off too soon and by too many and he wants to make a comeback to the national team. He wants to work hard on his fitness and play regularly for KRL in the coming weeks and to take part in the training camp. He feels that he still has something to offer the Pakistan team".

It remains to be seen whether the selectors once again show faith in Akhtar whose career has been dogged by injuries. One cold say that he has had one chance too many, but with Umar Gul struggling for form of late, Akhtar could once again find himslef back in favour.

http://www.pakpassion.net/gallery/files/5/ShoaibAkhtarinPPshirt.JPG
He should be given one match in each category to say good bye to cricket with grace. He served the country and country should allow him that much to say good bye in graceful manner.

He should not be part of world cup squad in any format.

[Monsee]

Don't think there's much to lose on that front. :moyo



Once :akhtar is in the team...you will know that quite fast; just remember the many walk outs when team needed him the most and hard work was needed, hitting Asif, Nandrlone issue, made up injuries, the ahem ahem issue, the pics with 2 cent bachiaan, partying episodes while in the middle of a match, that Jet Skiing incident while being injured, the innings filled with 4's and 6's while having a rib cage injury etc. etc.

List is quite long...he started his career with a ban (Pak A in England) and (if he has not changed much)...will end it on a similar note too ;-)

[Nazir_ Rules]

Inshallah he will be given a chance, and he will prove his critics wrong, i still think that with the current form of Umar Gul, he has the chance of doing good.

[GLORY OF '92]

Better than Gul in tests and odis. It would be brilliant if he came back in eng fully fit but I fear that is dreaming....

There's no doubt though this guy is/was a brilliant match winner. Truth be told we stll have not replaced him fully.

[Lightning]

As always, a half fit Shoaib is better than most quick men in Pak. Case in point Gully.

[slix10]

Gul/Aamer is in pretty bad shape these days.

If he can bowl 4 overs of 150kph beauties without falling over,

Maybe. Just maybe.

[saamry]

As always, a half fit Shoaib is better than most quick men in Pak. Case in point Gully.
Not sure if you would want to risk Shoaib influencing younger bowlers. I think that he should be given limited (supervised) opportunity to bow out of the national cricket gracefully.

[pakricket_lover]

He shud concentrate on bollywood movies and dance programs in india; we have seen enough of him.
He cant even bowl 2 consecutive overs with same pace. He is using his political influence/Pindi card to get him in the team. It will be pitty if we ever see him wearing green shirt.

RIP Rawalpindi Express

[its.raja]

I found it interesting

KKR yet to clear my dues: Shoaib Akhtar

http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/23638/KKR-yet-to-clear-my-dues--Shoaib-Akhtar

Modi the best :))

The fast bowler said KKR officials had told him that they had been instructed by IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi not to make any payment to the Pakistani players, including him.


Sorry this doesn't relate to this thread but didn't want to make a new one.

[Qelic]

Speaking earlier today to PakPassion.net team mates of Shoaib Akhtar at KRL were quoted as saying that the Rawalpindi Express is determined to prove his critics wrong and very keen to find a spot in the Pakistan squad for the Twenty/20 World Cup which takes place in the Caribbean in April and May of this year.

"We have heard that he will shortly be joining the KRL training camp which started today and will be available for the 50 over domestic competition that starts next month".

Akhtar who last represented Pakistan in May 2009 during a Twenty/20 international against Australia in Dubai, was not present today at the start of the training camp in Rawalpindi, but is expected to join the camp ahead of what he hopes will be a successful domestic stint for KRL.

Akhtar's team mates were also quoted as saying "Akhtar believes he has been written off too soon and by too many and he wants to make a comeback to the national team. He wants to work hard on his fitness and play regularly for KRL in the coming weeks and to take part in the training camp. He feels that he still has something to offer the Pakistan team".

It remains to be seen whether the selectors once again show faith in Akhtar whose career has been dogged by injuries. One cold say that he has had one chance too many, but with Umar Gul struggling for form of late, Akhtar could once again find himslef back in favour.

http://www.pakpassion.net/gallery/files/5/ShoaibAkhtarinPPshirt.JPG


He looks great in that labelled shirt .

[Savak]

:akhtar :akhtar :akhtar :akhtar

155 km/hr.

[Danishau]

Should of been picked for the ODI series.

[rhapsodite]

Lol, after all that has happened, you guys still talking bout this guy? Oh dear.. :))

[Saj]

Well lets see how things develop over the coming weeks and how well Shoaib does in the domestic 50 over competition for KRL.