Make or break for shoaib

Pakistan’s tarnished bowling star Shoaib Akhtar faces a “make-or-break” test of his fitness and commitment this week ahead of an all-important home series against resurgent England.

The 30-year-old known as the Rawalpindi Express returned to Pakistan from Australia on Sunday amid a chorus of questions about his poor fitness record and attitude.

“With his age he is at the crossroads,” said former Pakistan captain Imran Khan, a supporter of Akhtar.

“I think the England series is a make-or-break for Akhtar. He is 30 so he has four years left in him but it is Akhtar who gives Pakistan the hope to win against England,” said khan, a renowned fast bowler in the 1970s and 80s.

Pakistan hopes Akhtar, who has 144 wickets in 36 Tests, proves his fitness in a practice camp this week and later in a trial match, to warrant a selection against England in the first test at Multan from November 12.

Despite bowling some of the fastest deliveries ever recorded in the game, Akhtar does not have an automatic place and faces tough competition from fit-again pace partners Mohammad Sami, Umer Gul and Shabbir Ahmed.

His regular mid-series breakdowns since 2000 have also damaged his chances. A hamstring pull ended his tour of Australia earlier this year and forced him out of away series in India and the West Indies.

It took his tally to 35 tests missed out of Pakistan’s 71 since his debut in 1997.

Hot this week

Israel’s Strike on Iran and the Double Standard of Global Nuclear Warfare Response

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched one of the...

Simon Walters, the Foreign Office, and the Machinery of Apartheid: British Diplomacy in Crisis

As Israel continues its devastating assault on Gazaโ€”leveling entire...

A Rogue State in Crisis: U.S. Panic over UN Conference Reveals Fear of Global Recognition for Palestine

In a leaked diplomatic cable obtained by Reuters, the...

Peru Opens Preliminary Investigation into Israeli Soldier over Genocide Allegations in Gaza

In a landmark development, the Republic of Peru has...

Topics

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img