They say your life flashes in front of your eyes as death approaches.
The good, the bad, the best moments you lived through are replayed in a short burst that makes you realise the worth, the joy and the sheer existence of it all, the reasons behind who you were, are and could have been.
The last few months of Shoaib Akhtar’s career has followed the same pattern. His early worth paved way for injuries – of various types at numerous points in his life – and age got the better of his speed. He was shot down throughout his career, at every instance he broke down with a dodgy knee or under scrutiny for breaking a curfew. The hair style kept changing but the attitude remained defiant. He missed more than he played but insisted he wanted to play more.
Shoaib last played a Test over three years ago and has a solitary wicket to show for his efforts. But wickets never defined his career. His aggression, commitment – questionable at times – to the cause, intent and the lust for living a ‘normal’ life as a cricketer aided his ascent to stardom but played its fair share in the constant tugging to pull him off it.
He hasn’t taken more than three wickets in a One-Day International (ODI) since October 2007 but in the 29 ODIs since then, he was left hoping for an ‘effort’ column next to the wickets taken. Since the Asia Cup last year that marked his comeback after more than twelve months in hibernation, Shoaib has featured in almost every ODI Pakistan has played – a testament not only to his revitalised fitness levels, but also his attitude towards the team and the sport, and the need to end on his own accord.
Shoaib said he decided to retire after the World Cup while on the surgery table. The cause towards shedding weight the attempt at increasing his stamina falls right into place now. He wanted to walk out and not be pushed, to have a chance of a final swansong and a parting statement instead of following his idols’ footsteps and being shunned by the evil world that is Pakistan cricket.
For that, the run-up was shortened but the hostility remained on par with his younger days. The ball didn’t leave his hand as fast as it did but it was fast enough. The image of a stunned Eden Gardens, a shocked Stephen Fleming and an injured Brian Lara epitomises the fast-bowler as a force, an image the various bans, doping violations, hitting his teammates, the warts, and speaking out against his ‘dearest Pakistan Cricket Board’ fell flat against in comparison.
And as he lit up and looked in the distance after one of his finest performance off the field in the press conference, with Colombo stretched out in front of him, Shoaib looked every sort the hero that walks away into the shadows, content with his effort. He gave cricket a lot and his fans a lot more.
The search for a replacement will never start for Pakistan can neither produce nor afford another Shoaib.
© Faras Ghani 2011
Published in The Express Tribune Mar 19, 2011
Showing posts with label Shoaib Akhtar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shoaib Akhtar. Show all posts
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Monday, July 05, 2010
Pakistan look for change in fortunes
For a team that has been completely mauled against Australia in the last 12 months, Pakistan, unsurprisingly, look confident as they take on their nemesis in the first of the back-to-back Twenty20 internationals at Edgbaston today.
The whitewash and its repercussions, on and off the field, are still etched onto the players’ and the fans’ minds but captain Shahid Afridi, who has recovered from the minor muscle strain suffered in a tour match, knows fully well what his team is capable of.
“It’s a pressure game against Australia but I’m confident as we have always given them a tough time,” said Afridi on the eve of the match. “We’ve been playing well and with the combination that we have, I’m confident of defeating Australia. Even they’re aware of the fact that we’ve given them some difficult times and that’s why it’ll be an interesting series.”
With a 50 per cent winning ratio in Twenty20 internationals, following their 2009 World Twenty20 triumph – six wins and six losses – Pakistan will look to welcome back Umar Gul, the highest wicket-taker in the format. With Gul, Afridi will have a star-studded bowling lineup comprising Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Aamer and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.
“Bowling is definitely our main weapon. Akhtar’s here to play Twenty20 so he’s always going to play but with Gul’s return, our bowling has become stronger. We have young batsmen though but I feel we can overcome that soon.”
Pakistan has started the tour well – T20 wins against MCC XI and Essex aptly complemented by a commendable three-day outing against Northamptonshire. The batsmen, including opener Shahzaib Hasan – confined to international wilderness following a successful debut last year – have adapted to conditions quickly and Afridi’s quick-fire 13-ball 42 against Northamptonshire reminded everyone of his exploits in England last year.
However, memories of Michael Hussey effortlessly depositing Saeed Ajmal into the stands will still be fresh with both sides and Pakistan would want to take a leaf out of England’s book if they want to make an impression against the reigning One-Day International (ODI) World Champions. England, after a stuttering start to the 2010 World Twenty20, went on to beat Australia in the final and registered a 3-2 ODI series-win against the same opposition.
Despite the series-loss, Australia, courtesy its fast-bowlers, remain a potent force. And Afridi made it clear what is required of his team.
“Winning or losing is part of the game but what I want from my team is performance. If they deliver a good show and even then we lose, I’ll be satisfied despite the loss. It’s the performance that matters.”
© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 5, 2010
The whitewash and its repercussions, on and off the field, are still etched onto the players’ and the fans’ minds but captain Shahid Afridi, who has recovered from the minor muscle strain suffered in a tour match, knows fully well what his team is capable of.
“It’s a pressure game against Australia but I’m confident as we have always given them a tough time,” said Afridi on the eve of the match. “We’ve been playing well and with the combination that we have, I’m confident of defeating Australia. Even they’re aware of the fact that we’ve given them some difficult times and that’s why it’ll be an interesting series.”
With a 50 per cent winning ratio in Twenty20 internationals, following their 2009 World Twenty20 triumph – six wins and six losses – Pakistan will look to welcome back Umar Gul, the highest wicket-taker in the format. With Gul, Afridi will have a star-studded bowling lineup comprising Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Aamer and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.
“Bowling is definitely our main weapon. Akhtar’s here to play Twenty20 so he’s always going to play but with Gul’s return, our bowling has become stronger. We have young batsmen though but I feel we can overcome that soon.”
Pakistan has started the tour well – T20 wins against MCC XI and Essex aptly complemented by a commendable three-day outing against Northamptonshire. The batsmen, including opener Shahzaib Hasan – confined to international wilderness following a successful debut last year – have adapted to conditions quickly and Afridi’s quick-fire 13-ball 42 against Northamptonshire reminded everyone of his exploits in England last year.
However, memories of Michael Hussey effortlessly depositing Saeed Ajmal into the stands will still be fresh with both sides and Pakistan would want to take a leaf out of England’s book if they want to make an impression against the reigning One-Day International (ODI) World Champions. England, after a stuttering start to the 2010 World Twenty20, went on to beat Australia in the final and registered a 3-2 ODI series-win against the same opposition.
Despite the series-loss, Australia, courtesy its fast-bowlers, remain a potent force. And Afridi made it clear what is required of his team.
“Winning or losing is part of the game but what I want from my team is performance. If they deliver a good show and even then we lose, I’ll be satisfied despite the loss. It’s the performance that matters.”
© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 5, 2010
Friday, June 26, 2009
Younis Khan’s men — poor starters, great finalists
Second chances are rare in sports. Unimaginable, especially in the shortest form of international cricket. Seldom is a poor performance overturned by sparks of brilliance to win matches. Rarely is an array of poor fielding displays — that continuously let opposition off the hook — followed by shattered stumps that pulls them right back. It simply belies all cricket ethos and sits against the norm.
But the Pakistan team was never the one to bow to ethos and adhere to norm. It seemed an eternity to wake them from the Bhurban conditioning camp and the many Selfridges’ trips. The load-shedding, it seemed, had tampered with the veins and an early exit loomed as the team took to the field in their first warm-up.
As the team progressed unconvincingly, temperament went astray with the bat in hand. Until Younis Khan, followed by Kamran Akmal, came of age. Accuracy seemed a lost art with the ball and overstepping was adopted as norm. Until Umar Gul treated opposition with swinging spaghetti. The fielding display went from poor to wretched. Until Shahid Afridi galloped towards long-on boundary, clutching onto his prize from the heavens.
And out of nowhere, against expectations and predictions, it all seemed to fall in place. Just like that. Younis had issued repeated reminders that Pakistan have always been slow starters and will pick up pace with each victory. Never had that statement been more aptly illustrated on the field as the men in green saved their best for the best, South Africa at Trent Bridge, in an attempt to appear in their second successive final. Pakistan’s route to the semi-final is as much courtesy a favourable draw as spurts of brilliance. Skipper Younis and Intikhab Alam, the team’s coach, shared plans that contradicted, and fouled any hopes the fans had of a decent performance by their idols. While Younis wanted stability at the top, Intikhab preferred aggression. Neither seemed to work and the experiments that the team management vociferously pointed out would lead to an improved performance landed flat, failing to make an impression.
Not so much the cornered tigers, but cornered nevertheless.
And out of nowhere, as Salman Butt was put out of his misery by the team management, Akmal repaid Younis’ trust and gamble in him. Shahzaib Hassan deposited a few in the stands but it looked as if the injury to all-rounder Yasir Arafat, and the subsequent arrival of Abdul Razzaq, brought with it a change of fortunes and a bag of miracles.
Gul seemed to realise he still had it in him to bowl fast and swing the ball. Young Aamir was the surprise packet while Saeed Ajmal left doubts about the legality of his action behind and continued to flux batsmen.
Afridi, first-ball slogs and rash stroke-play aside, remembered he has improved as a bowler of late. Then came his batting which was, indeed, a revelation with a renewed vigour to occupy the crease and accumulate runs for his team. And Akmal, as a wicket-keeper with no Danish Kaneria in the side, held onto catches and created world records.
Younis, who had up until the semis shouldered batting responsibilities, sat back concentrating and scripting the perfect plot. Tweaking Shakespeare, with mirth and laughter let the greatest prize come, hoped the captain.
The route to success, surprisingly, was smooth off the field as well. With Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in a different time-zone, the team rather became a damp squib as far as the sniffing paparazzi were concerned. No curfew-breaking clubbing nights, no training scuffles, no bat-fencing at team-mates, no blazing-up to speak of.
Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain who was sidelined for much of the tournament due to injury, did try and help matters by blurting out desperate excuses to justify the humiliation received at the hands of Umar Gul. To no avail, unfortunately as his ‘informal inquiry’ for the match referee to look into the state of the magic white ball was shooed away and buried forever.
There were also reports of a rift in the camp, as Abdul Qadir, post-resignation, decided to reveal all. But rifts have been omnipresent in the dressing room since time began and that, on most occasions, failed to affect the combined performance on the field. Beffiting, perhaps, was the presence of Shoaib Malik, who Qadir would have omitted from the squad had he been able to ‘do things his own way’, in the middle as the winning run was scored.
Younis on the eve of the tournament made it clear that he wanted to face India in the final and beat them this time. That changed as short balls grew tall on the Indian batsmen. He then wanted it to be South Africa but in the end, it did not really matter to him.
As the light training sessions failed to replicate the growing tension among fans, the players, especially the youngsters, had realised destiny was a tiger tamed.
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, June 26, 2009
But the Pakistan team was never the one to bow to ethos and adhere to norm. It seemed an eternity to wake them from the Bhurban conditioning camp and the many Selfridges’ trips. The load-shedding, it seemed, had tampered with the veins and an early exit loomed as the team took to the field in their first warm-up.
As the team progressed unconvincingly, temperament went astray with the bat in hand. Until Younis Khan, followed by Kamran Akmal, came of age. Accuracy seemed a lost art with the ball and overstepping was adopted as norm. Until Umar Gul treated opposition with swinging spaghetti. The fielding display went from poor to wretched. Until Shahid Afridi galloped towards long-on boundary, clutching onto his prize from the heavens.
And out of nowhere, against expectations and predictions, it all seemed to fall in place. Just like that. Younis had issued repeated reminders that Pakistan have always been slow starters and will pick up pace with each victory. Never had that statement been more aptly illustrated on the field as the men in green saved their best for the best, South Africa at Trent Bridge, in an attempt to appear in their second successive final. Pakistan’s route to the semi-final is as much courtesy a favourable draw as spurts of brilliance. Skipper Younis and Intikhab Alam, the team’s coach, shared plans that contradicted, and fouled any hopes the fans had of a decent performance by their idols. While Younis wanted stability at the top, Intikhab preferred aggression. Neither seemed to work and the experiments that the team management vociferously pointed out would lead to an improved performance landed flat, failing to make an impression.
Not so much the cornered tigers, but cornered nevertheless.
And out of nowhere, as Salman Butt was put out of his misery by the team management, Akmal repaid Younis’ trust and gamble in him. Shahzaib Hassan deposited a few in the stands but it looked as if the injury to all-rounder Yasir Arafat, and the subsequent arrival of Abdul Razzaq, brought with it a change of fortunes and a bag of miracles.
Gul seemed to realise he still had it in him to bowl fast and swing the ball. Young Aamir was the surprise packet while Saeed Ajmal left doubts about the legality of his action behind and continued to flux batsmen.
Afridi, first-ball slogs and rash stroke-play aside, remembered he has improved as a bowler of late. Then came his batting which was, indeed, a revelation with a renewed vigour to occupy the crease and accumulate runs for his team. And Akmal, as a wicket-keeper with no Danish Kaneria in the side, held onto catches and created world records.
Younis, who had up until the semis shouldered batting responsibilities, sat back concentrating and scripting the perfect plot. Tweaking Shakespeare, with mirth and laughter let the greatest prize come, hoped the captain.
The route to success, surprisingly, was smooth off the field as well. With Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in a different time-zone, the team rather became a damp squib as far as the sniffing paparazzi were concerned. No curfew-breaking clubbing nights, no training scuffles, no bat-fencing at team-mates, no blazing-up to speak of.
Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain who was sidelined for much of the tournament due to injury, did try and help matters by blurting out desperate excuses to justify the humiliation received at the hands of Umar Gul. To no avail, unfortunately as his ‘informal inquiry’ for the match referee to look into the state of the magic white ball was shooed away and buried forever.
There were also reports of a rift in the camp, as Abdul Qadir, post-resignation, decided to reveal all. But rifts have been omnipresent in the dressing room since time began and that, on most occasions, failed to affect the combined performance on the field. Beffiting, perhaps, was the presence of Shoaib Malik, who Qadir would have omitted from the squad had he been able to ‘do things his own way’, in the middle as the winning run was scored.
Younis on the eve of the tournament made it clear that he wanted to face India in the final and beat them this time. That changed as short balls grew tall on the Indian batsmen. He then wanted it to be South Africa but in the end, it did not really matter to him.
As the light training sessions failed to replicate the growing tension among fans, the players, especially the youngsters, had realised destiny was a tiger tamed.
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Fans divided over Shoaib’s future
As maverick fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar sits out the ICC World Twenty20, omitted due to ‘skin conditions’ which have been elaborated upon in great detail in the press, majority of fans present at The Oval to witness the India game felt that sting will be missing from the Pakistan attack.
Many had thought Shoaib was on his way back into the team after featuring against Australia in the UAE series as he was also named in the 15-man England-bound squad, before being omitted on medical conditions.
Despite his off-field antics, regular injury problems, and at titude towards cricket — thought to be unprofessional by many — Shoaib still remains a favourite for a lot of fans. “He’s by far our best and fastest bowler and we need him back in the team as soon as possible,” Adil, a student covered in green, shouted across in excitement before adding “old is gold, you know, and there is no way you can replace Shoaib in the team.”
“We love Shoaib despite the reasons that he has been making the headlines for recently,” another fan added. “Without him, our attack is useless as we need the aggression and fear that he gathers in his approach to the wicket,” he said after the loss of the warm-up game on Wednesday. “He’s Pakistan’s x-factor,” another supporter dynamically put it. “Bring him back.”
The views were echoed by a few Indian supporters present at The Oval as well. “It’s not about Pakistan or India, it’s about cricket,” said Ajay, who described the warm-up as a “once in a lifetime opportunity.”. “He’s a great bowler, and a human. He has made mistakes but for the sake of cricket, he should be given another chance as I would love to see him play again.”
While his fans were present in huge numbers, the doubters ensured their voices, and reasons, were heard clearly. “He is a selfish, ungrateful person and not a team player at all,” said Asad, a student from Karachi who is here on vacation. “’He’s unfit more often than not and his return, which is mostly brief, only destabilises the squad, especially the deserving, younger bowlers.”
While some harsh words were attributed to Shoaib, some justified and some out of sheer frustration, the fans also thought he was way past his prime and he should consider retirement right away. “It’s quite obvious his preference lies somewhere else, notably Bollywood,” a fan said. “He’s finished.”
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 5, 2009
Many had thought Shoaib was on his way back into the team after featuring against Australia in the UAE series as he was also named in the 15-man England-bound squad, before being omitted on medical conditions.
Despite his off-field antics, regular injury problems, and at titude towards cricket — thought to be unprofessional by many — Shoaib still remains a favourite for a lot of fans. “He’s by far our best and fastest bowler and we need him back in the team as soon as possible,” Adil, a student covered in green, shouted across in excitement before adding “old is gold, you know, and there is no way you can replace Shoaib in the team.”
“We love Shoaib despite the reasons that he has been making the headlines for recently,” another fan added. “Without him, our attack is useless as we need the aggression and fear that he gathers in his approach to the wicket,” he said after the loss of the warm-up game on Wednesday. “He’s Pakistan’s x-factor,” another supporter dynamically put it. “Bring him back.”
The views were echoed by a few Indian supporters present at The Oval as well. “It’s not about Pakistan or India, it’s about cricket,” said Ajay, who described the warm-up as a “once in a lifetime opportunity.”. “He’s a great bowler, and a human. He has made mistakes but for the sake of cricket, he should be given another chance as I would love to see him play again.”
While his fans were present in huge numbers, the doubters ensured their voices, and reasons, were heard clearly. “He is a selfish, ungrateful person and not a team player at all,” said Asad, a student from Karachi who is here on vacation. “’He’s unfit more often than not and his return, which is mostly brief, only destabilises the squad, especially the deserving, younger bowlers.”
While some harsh words were attributed to Shoaib, some justified and some out of sheer frustration, the fans also thought he was way past his prime and he should consider retirement right away. “It’s quite obvious his preference lies somewhere else, notably Bollywood,” a fan said. “He’s finished.”
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 5, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)