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| Shoaib Akhtar |
It's not an outstanding career but undeniably a fascinating roller coaster ride for 35-year-old Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, best known amongst fans as the "Rawalpindi Express", who has announced to retire from international cricket after the ongoing World Cup.
Shoaib Akhtar made his international debut in 1997 and soon became a figure in cricketing world by his record fastest delivery and lethal Yorkers and quick bouncers. He is probably best remembering as a “glamour boy” in Pakistan team who had been always disheveled in some sort of controversy. Despite his effort to be ‘Mr Clean’, he has never been able to brushed off the numerous controversies hovered around him during his cricketing tenure. In the recent disciplinary breach of conduct, Shoaib was fined $2,000 last week for venting his anger at wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal during the match against New Zealand.
"With this announcement it feels like it's my first death," he said.
The sentiment oozed out certainly shows the deep love for the sport in the heart of Shoaib, but it also shows that the world fastest delivery man has taken the decision after much thought.
Shoaib Akhtar has been involved in controversies during his whole career. He is blamed for not being a team player and involved in conflicts with team members. In the year 2003 he was banned for ball tampering. In the same year he was again banned for abusing South African spin bowler Paul Adams.
His career is best remembered for his consistent injuries and indiscipline conducts. In 2006, Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were banned for failed drug tests and suspended for two and one years respectively. However, both of which were lifted on appeal. The continuous fitness setbacks compelled him to sit back in the 2007 World Cup. He was fined and banned for 13 ODI after he hit Asif with a bat. Akhtar also threatened to sue the Pakistan Cricket Board when he was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (genital warts) and subsequently dropped from the 2009 world Twenty20 squad.
He is always been a controversial figures in and outside of ground, but people still love him because of exceptionally blunt force and flamboyancy. Rana Bhagwandas, a highly respected name of the Pakistani judiciary stated once that, “Akhtar is a legend of Pakistan cricket.” Ricky Ponting appreciated Shoaib, saying Pakistani paceman was the fastest bowler he has ever faced.
In the press conference he said that there were bad moments in everybody’s life and needed to take just a part of life. Through this process everyone grew out of it, and at last when turned 35 one became mature.
It seems the journey of speed machine in the ground is over, but at 35, the golden boy of Rawalpindi is still to understand what is “just a part of life” means.
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