History of Pakistan Cricket's RawalPindi Express - Shoaib Akhtar

Summary: Ball Tempering, Rude Attitude, Doping Charges, Fights with former coach Bob Woolmer. This man has been nominated for them all. His career is spanned over 9 years. He represented Pakistan Cricket in 133 One Day Internationals (ODI) and has 208 Wickets under his belt. He participated in 43 Test Matches and got 169 Players out. Looking by the facts and figures It is not immense amount of cricket he played but he was in news more than in cricket ground.

"Here is the history of one of our greatly hyped fast bowler in review. Very early days of Shoaib Akhtar back in 1996 when he was about to join Pakistan Cricket team he was dropped from squad because of bad attitude. He got 1 year delayed ODI debut because of this. He was leading wicket taker and star of the series in World Cup 1999. Earlier this year playing against India he produced those two magic balls which made him famous all over the world. He was hired by Nottinghamshire to play county league same year. His bowling action was reported and then cleared by ICC. Soon after that he suffered a rib injury to avoid Nottinghamshire county season. A should injury followed by Knee and ankle injury conquered him not to play anymore in year 2000. He returned back with a strong performance against New Zealand cricket team where he took 5 wickets in year 2001. But in very next game to disappoint his entire fans over the world he spotted a hamstring injury after 9 throwing 9 balls only. He was again reported for his bowling action but was cleared as the report from Cricket University said his action is caused by special physical characteristics. Early 2002 he was hit by the crowed in Dhaka, India. He was forced to miss the tour because of injury. He came back to team against New Zealand while paying at home ground. He bowled first ever 100 mph ball in the history of cricket. Against Zimbabwe he returned the favor to the crowed by throwing a bottle towards them and got himself 1 ODI ban. A knee injury follows that to miss the series against South Africa. In 2003 he was removed from the Pakistan Cricket team along with other players by Tauqir Zia (PCB Chairman) on poor performance in Worl Cup 2003. Later this year when he was called back for series against Sri Lanka he earned a ban for ball tempering. He faced a lawsuit from a Pakistani citizen on partying on a night of religious importance. He was found jet skiing while he missed test match series in new Zealand because of calf groin injury. He found himself in a back injury in 2004 playing against India Cricket team in final test match. Later he hits 28 of 14 balls in the same match. Inzamam-ul-Haq was not very impressed with this performance he gave with the injury. A should injury captured Shoaib Akhtar at perth while he was destroying Australian cricket team alone with his furious bowling. Even this year he was reported for disciplinary breaches. A Bollywood Movie Director Mahesh Bhatt offered him a role in his movie in year 2005 as he was facing a hamstring injury and was not able to join the cricket team for VB Series. His relations with former Pakistan Cricket Coach Bob Woolmer and Inzama-ul-Haq corroded. Yet again, peaces out critics by enormous performance against England Cricket team with 17 wickets in series despite of getting an injury in last test at Lahore. Greg Chappell raised his questions against Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action in 2006, ICC refrained from commenting on this. Ankle injury followed by severe knee condition threatened his career ending. He was due for a surgery. In 2006 Doping charges on Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif shocked the Cricket World as they were tested positive for the banned substance Nandrolone just before the champions Trophy. Later the ban for 2 years was cleared by a neutral tribunal. Cricket fans all over the world were happy to see him named in 30 man squad for World Cup 2007. He was injured during South Africa Series and only could play one test match. An argument with Bob Woolmer was shown on a TV channel and Shoaib Akhtar was fined by Pakistan Cricket Board. His named was pulled off from the World Cup 2007 Pakistan Squad at very last moment because of injury. Some say it was a precaution for him not to find positive in dope-test as Nandrolone substance were still present in his body. Shaoib Akhtar named in Asia XI Vs Africa XI was again a happy moment for his fans, Pakistan Cricket board removed him after he declared gimself unavailable for Abu Dhabi Series. His name was included in squad against Scotland and Twenty Twenty World Cup 2007 and he continued practicing in the cricket camp. He then leaves the training camp without informing and was nominated breaking a mirror in dressing room in anger. A committee formed by Pakistan Cricket Board leaves him on probation period of six weeks and holds the fine. Pakistan Cricket Teams reached South Africa to take part in Pre-Matches for Twenty Twenty World Cup. Shoaib Akhtar again performs well and proves his fitness in first 4 matches Pakistan played. The latest news from a Cricket Ground dressing room hits the media when arrogant Shoaib Akhtar hits his fellow Muhammad Asif with a cricket bat while in an argument. He has been sent back to Pakistan and an indefinite ban has been imposed for playing cricket by Chairman PCB Naseem Ashraf."