CricDigs Blogs

Folks, I can safely say that I have been following Cricket for the past 3 decades or so. I remember listening to the commentary on Radio early in the morning when India used to visit Australia, and now watching it on-line and shouting on cricdigs. In all these years, I have not seen a bowler who was more aggressive, lethal and so fragile at the same time.

I am talking about Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar, the Rawalpindi Express. Though, seeing him struggle through the “act” of bowling in the current India-Pak series is like watching a Train Wreck. His presence on the field is like a Zebra crossing the Zebra-Crossing. “Now You See Him, Now You Don’t”.

In all these appearances and disappearances, what amazes me most is his attitude. He still comes across so cocky, so arrogant. He was mocking Dravid for hopping to play one of his short-pitched delivery, raising hands while in the middle of his run-up to distract Ganguly (who promptly backed-off, making Shoaib go back to his LONG run-up and run back again) and after doing all these “aggressive” actions, running out to get a massage or treatment. We all know that a team is allowed to have a 12th man to substitute for a “hurt” player, but how is that allowed for a player who comes into the match with a suspect fitness and who can not even survive on a field for a session?

Now looking at the Pakistani team selection process, I guess PCB can not get “over” Shoaib despite their numerous ugly “break-ups”. The ones including suspension (for hitting Asif), control-substance issue and general discipline problem.

So my message to Shoaib would be to either get over his fragilities and play like a man or hang up his boots and enroll in some spa for continuing treatments.