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Role of Shoaib Akhtar In The Demise of Muhammad Asif & Pakistan Cricket

By Sikander Hayat


Muhammad Asif’s case is turning into an enigma now as nobody knows the extent to which he will be penalised and until such time when this case is concluded, the situation is increasingly becoming embarrassing for the Pakistan cricket board (PCB).

I personally believe that Pakistan cricket is paying the price of persevering with Shoaib Akhtar, who has single headedly destroyed the discipline of the team and proved to be a disaster for not only himself but a force of destruction for any young fast bowlers who played alongside him.

Shoaib Akhtar used drugs and made people like Asif think that drugs were after all not such a bad option. He must never return to Pakistan cricket in any shape or form for the future of the Pakistan cricket.

It has always been the case with Pakistan cricket that when one generation was at its peak, it nurtured the next generation e.g. Sarfraz Nawaz helped Imran khan Immensely and then Imran helped Wasim & Waqar who in turn polished Shoaib’s talent. That chain was broken when Shoaib Akhtar came to the fore and became a role model which was absolutely the wrong role model for the youngsters in the team.

Here is why I think Shoaib ruined the future of many youngsters in Pakistani team who looked up to him for inspiration:

1. Having late nights out before match days and then turning up for the match with a hangover ( Drinking or sleeping around is fine as long as it does not effect the performance of the team). His contracts with couple of county sides were abruptly ended because of this reason but Pakistan cricket board never had the balls to take a similar action.

2. Getting into quarrels with coaches. Late Bob Woolmer was on the receiving end on many of the occasions.

3. Declaring himself match fit for the test match and then after bowling three over’s sitting outside for the rest of five days. ( he did that on so many occasions that I cannot even count them)

4. Whenever someone showed some courage to put him out of the team either on drug charges or other disciplinary counts, he manipulated media to the fullest extent and to the point where board officials had no choice but to bring him back or they would lose their own jobs. I blame the media here as well especially people like Hamid Mir who gave Shoaib media time and put pressure on the board. Mr Mir must look at what Shoaib’s has done after coming into the team since then and must re-evaluate his behaviour in this whole saga.

5. In a triangular series in 2003 in Sri Lanka, he was caught tampering with the ball, making him the second player ever to be banned on ball tampering charges.

6. In the 2004 home series with India, he struggled with wrist and back injuries, which raised questions about their authenticity. During the final Test he cited injury and chose not to bowl halfway through but was met with raised eyebrows when he later turned up to bat, apparently enjoying himself. His reputation suffered, especially after Haq's outburst in a post match press conference. His relationship with the captain and the coach deteriorated further partially due to his manipulative nature and partially due to politics.

7. He was sent back from the 2005 Australia tour with a hamstring injury amid rumours of indiscipline, lack of commitment, and attitudinal complaints. He was subsequently fined by the PCB for avoiding a late night curfew. At this point, once loved Shoaib was reviled alike by teammates, opponents and cricket fans.

8. On October 16, 2006, Shoaib was suspended by the PCB, along with Mohammed Asif after the pair were tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance nandrolone. They were consequently pulled from the ICC Champions Trophy 2006. Former PCB chairman later stated that he had always suspected Shoaib of substance abuse due to his consistent "reservations" to drug tests. Pakistan captain Inzamam ul Haq had also previously complained about Shoaib's drug abuse but was not acted upon by the PCB. Pakistan news reports state that federal capital police had arrested Shoaib along with drugs some three years ago. Shoaib was then reportedly seen participating in the smoking of marijuana at a night club, violating the curfew for the team in their test series against England.


9. In August 2007, Shoaib is reported to have used foul language against PCB protesting the imposing of fine of Rs. 300,000 for indiscipline during the national camp in Karachi.

10. In the week before the inaugural World Twenty20, held in South Africa, Shoaib was rumoured to have hit fellow Pakistani teammate Mohammad Asif with a bat, leaving a bruise on his left thigh. According to sources, the two were involved in a dressing room spat which resulted in Asif being struck by a bat on his left thigh. Sources said the fight between the two started after Asif and Shahid Afridi disagreed with Shoaib that he shared the same stature as Imran Khan in Pakistan cricket and even ridiculed him for making such a comparison.

11. On April 1, 2008 Akhtar was banned for five years for violating the players' code of conduct. The ban extended to all cricket for and in Pakistan.

12. Shoaib Akhtar was on September 4, 2008 sent home by British immigration officials after landing at Heathrow airport without a valid working visa.

This is not the complete list but only a handful of events where Shoaib compromised the Pakistan cricket board. It is my request to any of the decision makers for Pakistan cricket and it is rendered with great sadness that please end this saga of manipulation. No player is bigger than the game and I mean nobody. Shoaib and people like him are an embarrassment to the Pakistan cricket side and must not be rewarded for their absolute lack of respect for discipline or the unfortunate cases like Muhammad Asif will keep occurring.

Comments

  1. "Shoaib Akhtar used drugs and made people like Asif think that drugs." This is unfounded speculation, and worse diverts blame. Asif is an adult who took drugs and should be held responsible for that. If there is another party which can be held guilty then it's the PCB, who have time and again failed to look after our players - a majority of whom are poor and uneducated. Case in point - Mohammad Yusuf and the ICL / IPL saga.

    Also, its important to distinguish between performance enhancing drugs and recreational drugs. Shoaib and Asif have both been caught using the former but only Asif has been caught, and confessed to using the former.

    And while we're at the subject, Wasim, Waqar and Mushtaq were arrested on a West Indian tour for possession of Marijuana. But they were fantastic cricketers who worked hard; Shoaib doesn't. This supports your point that it doesn't matter that Shoaib drinks or sleeps around, it matters when he becomes fat and can't bowl.

    Its time Shoaib was shown the door.

    ReplyDelete
  2. International cricket must return to Pakistan before it is too late. Pakistan have played well in UAE but home crowd has missed the opportunity to see their heroes in action. Arrival of cricket in Pakistan will showcase to the world that Pakistan is back and will complete the successes gained against terrorism in last few years.

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