PCB is playing double game by permitting Shoib AKthar to play in county championships.

Shoaib Akthar’s plea to PCB is getting replied. It was in April 2008 when Akthar was banned by PCB for keeping nandrolone, a drug banned by the ICC, for five years. Further the ban from cricket was reduced to eighteen months. Akthar was unhappy and he sought appellate court’s intervention. The court of Lahore relieved him of the ban imposed by the PCB and the ban from cricket was suspended.

Lucky Akthar got selection in the Champions Trophy squad of Pakistan. But difficulties come all together, the Champions Trophy was postponed. The International Cricket Council delayed it due to the security concerns put up by four teams, namely England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, over playing in Pakistan.

Now, the PCB is permitting him to play in county cricket. He is expected to play for Surrey in the last three games. The team he is going to play for, Surrey, is also in trouble as they are positioned almost at the last in the league. They see a savior in Akthar. But, the PCB’s decision is a type of double game. It was not granting permission for its players to play in county cricket for the last two years. The PCB was more rigid in case of fast bowlers. Then why did they allow Akthar to play county cricket. Here is the double thinking of PCB.

They may have noticed Akthar’s performance in Indian Premier League. In his first match for Kolkata Knight Riders he was fabulous and match winning. But later it was sympathetic. He was troubling due to lack of fitness. PCB might have thought of analyzing his performance in county cricket which would provide a clear aspect of Akthar’s fitness. If he is regaining fitness they may select him for the forth coming cricket series against South Africa, and if not?

PCB Chief Operation Officer Shafqat Nagmi was thinking different. He considers the case of Akthar, something different. He emphasizes the need of the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ to play certain matches to regain his fitness. The remarks clearly show the thinking of PCB as they are not ready to include Akthar blindly in the Pakistan Squad.

Surely Nagmi has more bonuses to offer for Akthar. Last month a legal letter was issued to Akthar instructing him to pay a fine of seven million rupees. It was said that if he did not pay, he should not expect a call back to the Pakistan National Cricket Team. To make things easier to Akthar, Nagmi now announced that it is not mandatory for the speedster to pay the fine to keep a chance for selection in to the national squad. Now things are more clear, Akthar if you want to regain the national cap, show your talent in the county championship.

What about the future of ‘Rawalpindi Express?’ It is very much evident that the game lives of speed bowlers are relatively low. The bowling career of Akthar was very much affected by injuries in the past. Now even if he gets selected to Pakistan Cricket Team, he will not be able to maintain the form and fitness for long. So far as cricket fans are concerned, he must emphasize on physical fitness rather than attaining high speed in bowling. He should concentrate on getting more accuracy and be economical in physical strain while bowling. Or else he would be a contracted player for IPL or ICL only. Of course, the option of county cricket is there.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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