Joint Post by Syed Ahsan Ali and Owais Mughal
Oops! The blue-eyed boy of Pakistan’s cricket team has done it again. This time hitting his team-mate by a cricket bat. Who said that we are an intolerant nation. It is utterly wrong. Look how oblivious we are of Mr. Shoaib Akhtar‘s failings. He misbehaved; we said he is a match-winner. He accused former greats for overshadowing his success; we said he is a match-winner. He tried to disrupt Inzamam‘s discipline over the team; we said he is a match-winner. He was caught using performance-enhancing drugs while whole world was saying him cheat and druggie; we said he is a match-winner. And now he hit his colleague on the thigh with a bat, disgracing the game, name of the country and fellow-colleagues, what would we do now? We hope this incident would get us out of our slumber and decide whether he is a menace or necessity for the team.
Today, Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to send him back from the Twenty20 World Cup and handed him an indefinite ban pending a hearing, which will take place after the team returns from South Africa.
A press release issued on Friday by team manager Talat Ali in Johannesburg said:
“The decision [to send him home] has been taken on an incident that took place yesterday [6th September] afternoon at the Centurion Park after the practice session of the Pakistan team. It was reported to us by Asif that Shoaib had hit him on his leg with a bat and abused him.”
According to Dawn news, PCB chief executive officer Shafqat Naghmi said:.
“Shoaib Akhtar will be returning by the first available flight….(the) decision was taken on complaints of discipline violation.”
To his defense Shoaib akhtar‘s statements appears at the website Cricinfo where he says that he made a mistake “in the heat of the moment”.
“I’m human and made a mistake in the heat of the moment…Asif said something to me that made me lose my temper. I apologised to him, but I was very upset.”
He asked the media not to paint him as a villain and said,
“I’m feeling bad that two minutes of temper have ruined my comeback. Sometimes you do things in a fit of temper. I will explain the situation to everyone and apologise. I will address a press conference and apologise for my actions. I will try and make it back for the series against South Africa next month.”
PCB Chairman Naseem Ashraf‘s statement also appears in electronic media today where he has said something to the tune that Shoaib won’t be back even if Pakistan gets to play more than 5 matches in the tournament.
In the past we have covered Shoaib Akhtar quite a few times at ATP e.g. Here, Here and Here. Just like all other cricket fans, our sweet-bitter relationship with him seems to continue with this post. Shoaib now seems to be transgressing again and again. Some say this is because he gets away with it after facing media trial and paying heavy bucks. Few years back, famous broadcaster Harsha Bhogle wrote in an article that Shane Warne is a great cricketer but he is not a nice role-model to idolize for young cricketers. Now it appears that the case may not be too different with Shoaib Akhtar.
Credits: Title photo of this article is from www.cricinfo.com
shoaib compares himself with great french player Zidane who headbutted the italian. While Zidane’s reason might be “valid” but not sensible at all. Shoaib said when Zidane could get angry then why not him?
I suggest shoaib our next presidential candidate or give him ticket of QAAF league. That’s the best punishment he could be given by anyone. :-)
Hello All
Shoaib Akhtar has been nothing but a chauvinist, uneducated, over confident,unruly, and an un professional cricketer which has brought incredible shame to the country.
Let alone the doping, ball tampering and his knees & ankles crocking – I’m so disturbed and hurt by his latest altercation that i have decided to run a campaigne to persuade PCB to Impose a Life-Ban on Shoaib Akhtar.
Please Sign Petition to Impose Life-Ban on Shoaib Akhtar. Please Sign !!
petitiononline.com/ilbosa/petition.html
One way to punish him would be to drop his contract from A to B initially and then to C. At the same time, don’t select him for any international matches ever but instead let him linger around as an unwanted cricketer till he fades away. And of course, don’t forget to fine him so all the money he gets from the contract comes back to Pakistan. In fact, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to fine him a little more with forced volunteer work cleaning toilets in a govt. hospital. Sentence him to 6 months of no cricket with more pending a hearing after 6 months. After 6 months, extend it for another 6 months. Repeat this process 2 more times, and he’ll be old and useless as a bowler by then.
My feelings are what PatExpat said:
“Shoaib Akhtar
He’s blaming Afridi!
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current /story/310040.html
” “The incident began with a verbal spat between me and Afridi, who used foul language,” Akhtar said, “and Asif intervened and in anger I hit Asif with a bat.”
“Afridi said things about my family which I could not tolerate. He made comments that cannot be called jokes. I am sorry for what happened and it should not have happened. I request the authorities not to ban me for a lengthy period. I want to play for my country and talk of a life ban or lengthy ban is worrying.””