CricDigs Blogs

None cuts a sadder a figure in international cricket than Shoaib Akhtar. First there were mild accusations of indiscipline. Then the complains came with increasing frequency. Then came the drug use charges. Even then the Pakistan board protected him. But he let every body down with repeated display of gross indiscipline.

It appears Shoaib Akhtar never had anything except drug inflated muscles. Now that the drugs have been taken away he is finding it tough to stay in the team. He invents novel ways to get himself thrown out of the team. Sometimes he doesn’t report for practice and at other times he hits his team mate with the bat.

Now the brand Shoaib Akhtar has become defunct. Nobody cares for his reputation as a bowler. His career as a bowler is over. At a time when he should have peaked he is gone.

The name Shoaib Akhtar inspired awe five/six years back. But even then players like Ajay Jadeja had no fear for his bowling. Jadeja has gone on record terming Shoaib a pehlwan with a ball in his hand. Nothing more. Now the pehlwan from Pakistan is thrown out of the team. And it’s unlikely that he would ever come back to play.

Moral of the Story: Its easier to be a playboy than a boy that plays well.