New, improved Shoaib Akhtar is good sign for Pakistan
Last Updated: Mar 7, 2011
Until that fateful day in August 2010 when cricket was thrown into turmoil by the News of The World spot-fixing expose, one would have struggled to find a single personality in the game who has inspired so much diatribe, hyperbole or comment than a wonderfully gifted fast bowler by the name of Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan.
To his avid and dedicated fans he is known as the "Rawalpindi Express", denoting his speed and locomotive like determination.
However, to his many critics, the term "Rawalpindi Rickshaw" is more acceptable, signifying their belief in his penchant for a lot of noise and not much substance. Regardless of loyalties, the fact is that his name evokes many shades of emotions and that is what makes Shoaib so special to cricket.
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His 13-year career summary reads like a script tailor made for a Bollywood blockbuster.
It starts with our hero, a handsome young tearaway bowler, who charms the cricketing world with his pace and physical prowess. His muscular frame pounds the turf as he delivers thunderbolt after thunderbolt from his marathon run up.
It is replete with villains and romantic interests. It features various ups and downs in his life in the form of unplayable deliveries to a who's who of world batting including Sachin Tendulkar, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, and Jacques Kallis, coupled with doubts over his action, various and potentially career-ending injuries, run ins with authorities, bans for using performance enhancing drugs, tales of "extra curricular" activities and an incident where he is accused of spanking a teammate with a bat.
His admirers and detractors would both agree that he has not delivered to his potential and a little more discipline would have taken him further afield.
It therefore stands to reason that the image of a carefree Shoaib, riding around unfettered on a motorbike in Lahore, defying the world order and old fashioned values, throwing caution to the wind, is one that seems to be agreed upon by all.
His role as Pakistan's premier fast bowler, at least in the one-day game, was intact for most parts of his career - the fact that Pakistan could never produce anyone in the likeness of the former greats was a contributing factor as was the perceived mismanagement of other resources.
That was the case until a precocious young talent arrived on the scene. His name was Mohammed Aamer and it became immediately apparent that Shoaib's role at the forefront of Pakistan bowling was at an end.
And so it appeared that Shoaib's eccentric ways, injuries and the rise of the young Aamer was steadily propelling him to an unceremonious exit from the game he loves - until that day in August 2010. This was the day when the cricketing world and most of Pakistan cricket fans woke up to face one of the most damaging crises to hit the game. While many in the world considered the impact on the careers of the accused, Shoaib's longevity was being dealt an unexpected boost.
Suddenly, Shoaib was being looked upon as the knight in shining armour, riding (or stumbling with a dodgy knee) to help Pakistan gain some semblance of respect. If his doubters were expecting the usual list of injuries and other excuses for Shoaib to limp off mid game or for dropping out of the team, they were provided with a nasty jolt. A new and improved version of Shoaib had arrived and was here to stay.
It started with that heart-thumping, flag-kissing performance at Chester-le-Street in England. His new-found determination was impressive but what brought tears to many Pakistani eyes was the sincerity of the effort in that bowling spell. The sight of a rejuvenated Shoaib running in to bowl to English batsmen with all the might that he could muster was, in all probability, a rallying cry for a fragmented and beleaguered Pakistan team desperate to regain their bearings. Next page
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Summary
A lot is expected from Shoaib and from what can be seen from his contributions so far, the determination and fire to succeed is present in ample proportions.
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