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| Gutsy Shoaib Akhar will retire after World Cup 2011 © AFP |
In-n-Out, fitness problems, scandals, controversies, devil-may-care attitude, triumphs, bans and reversals is all Shabby has witnessed in his 14-years long career. He is Pakistan's maverick paceman and world's fastest bowler fans have ever witnessed in the cricket world - enigmatic Shoaib Akhtar, praised as 'spellbinding' by world's top batsmen, started his career with full-throttle but lost his beans in the twilight. The guy who was never scared of little-master Tendulkar and prevailed over him on many occasion due to his ability of bowling with full power.
Now Shoaib Akhtar has announced his retirement from the International Cricket and he won't be available to serve Pakistan after World Cup 2011.
“Yes, I will quit international cricket after the World Cup” the 35-year-old told AFP. “I have taken this decision after much thought. Pakistan’s last match in this World Cup will also be my last. I hope that will be the final on April 2.”
Some peoples believe that Kamran Akmal is responsible for Shoaib’s early-retirement. He would not have announced his retirement too early if Pakistan had not lost against New Zealand. Many also believe that Akmal is also responsible for his ‘resting’ after New Zealand game.
Akhtar, who made his international debut in 1997, took 178 wickets in 46 Tests, the last of which was against India at Bangalore in 2007. He is three wickets short of 250 in 163 one-day internationals and has taken 19 wickets in 15 Twenty20 internationals. He holds the record of cracking world's fastest delivery at 161.3 km/h.
Praised by allmost every batsmen who faced his music and every avid fan of cricket. Shoaib Akhtar dismissed Indian greats Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid off successive deliveries in the Calcutta Test which Earned him the nickname of “Rawalpindi Express”.
“We feel sad for Shoaib as he has been a very nice team-mate and we’ll always remember him as someone who always tried hard for the team and every player thanks him,” said skipper Shahid Afridi.
Former captain Ramiz Raja said he would like to remember Shoaib as a fighter.
“I would like to remember him as a tearaway bowler who with his strike-rate was a match winner on his day. He battled through injuries and controversies with a lot of heart throughout his career,” said Ramiz.
Intikhab also praised Shoaib’s decision. “He has done a fantastic job for Pakistan and bowled his heart out. I feel sorry for him today but he chose a graceful way, we need characters like him on the field,” he stated.
Coach Waqar Younis praised Shoaib’s decision. “I played with him and then coached him. He has been a great bowler for the country and served the team well. It is a nice way to leave the place for youngsters and that’s something we must appreciate,” he said.
Sarfraz Nawaz, another former Test pace bowler, said: “There is no doubt that Shoaib is one of the best bowlers of all times. He won many matches for Pakistan and was a nemesis even for the world’s top batsmen.”
Shoaib Akhtar career timeline
Shoaib Akhtar’s career timeline after the Pakistan pace bowler on Thursday announced his retirement from international cricket after the World Cup:
1996
Removed from the team for the Sahara Cup against India in Canada on grounds of indiscipline.
1997
Akhtar makes his Test debut against the West Indies in November at his home ground in Rawalpindi, taking two wickets.
February 1999
Akhtar dismisses Indian greats Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid off successive deliveries in the Calcutta Test, which Pakistan win to lift the Asian Test championship. Earns nickname of “Rawalpindi Express”.
December 1999
Akhtar’s action called for the first time, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) allows him to carry as only his bouncer causes concerns.
March 2000
Banned for one ODI and fined for reaching team hotel late in Pakistan.
2001
Akhtar’s action called for second time after taking five wickets in New Zealand.
November 2001
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| Shoaib Akthar earned the nickname of 'Rawalpindi Express by his fans © AFP |
November 2002
Reprimanded for ball-tampering and banned for one ODI after throwing water bottle at a spectator in Zimbabwe.
May 2003
Banned for two ODIs and fined 75 per cent of match fee for ball-tampering during a tri-series in Sri Lanka
March 2003
Akhtar bowled at 100mph in Pakistan’s match against England at Cape Town, becoming the first bowler in the history of the game to break the 100mph barrier.
October 2003
Banned for one Test and two ODIs for abusing Paul Adams in the first Test against South Africa, after taking eight wickets in the match to help Pakistan win. In second Test against New Zealand, helps Pakistan win with seven-wicket burst (11 in the match).
March 2004
Akhtar accused of feigning injury after Pakistan lost Test series to archrivals India 2-1.
October 2006
Akhtar and Mohammad Asif test positive for banned steroid nandrolone. Akhtar banned for two years and Asif for one year, bans which were lifted on appeal.
September 2007
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| © AFP |
January 2008
Excluded from list of central contracts. A fuming Akhtar criticises the PCB. A disciplinary committee bans him for five years. Punishment reduced to 18 months on appeal, but fine imposed
May 2009
PCB drop him from World Twenty20 squad.
January 2011
Selected in Pakistan’s World Cup squad, despite coach Waqar Younis saying he is not 100 percent fit.
March 2011
Akhtar announces he will retire after the World Cup
Career Timeline by E. Tribune
