‘Rawalpindi Express’ runs out of steam in anti-climax

MOHALI: A career that began so promisingly 14 years ago with Shoaib Akhtar refusing to take off his first Pakistan kit for three days, ended with a dressing down on Wednesday when the fast bowler was reduced to being a ‘waterboy’.
A shadow of the tearaway who once terrified batsmen, as well as cricket administrators worldwide, Shoaib’s career ended meekly, denied the headline farewell he cherished.
The man who was nicknamed the “Rawalpindi Express” for his ability to bowl at high speeds had been hoping for one last hurrah in Wednesday’s high-octane World Cup semifinal against traditional foes India.
The 35-year-old, out of form and out of shape, was deemed surplus to requirements after being clobbered for 70 in nine overs against New Zealand at the World Cup.
That mauling prompted him to announce he’d retire after the tournament, but one last shot at India in the semifinals beckoned if only skipper Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis could be tempted to take the gamble.
Shoaib, though, was desperate to play against India.
“Winning this match (against India) or performing well, people will remember you all their life,” Shoaib told BBC radio. “You’ll be talked about for many centuries.
“I want to be remembered, I want to do well, I want to put every ounce of my body that I have left in me. I will go out there and provide and deliver it.”
But Afridi and Waqar resisted and their caution was rewarded when Wahab Riaz, Shoaib’s junior by 10 years, took a career-best five wickets to keep Pakistan in the game. However, their eventual defeat brought one of the most controversial careers in cricket to a screeching halt.
“We wanted Shoaib Akhtar to play but he was struggling,” Afridi explained after Wednesday’s 29-run defeat to their arch-rivals.
“We could not play someone who is at 50% or 60% of peak fitness. Riaz played in his place and you have seen his performance.”
Shoaib had already admitted that time had caught up with him, opting to jump before he was pushed in an emotional retirement speech earlier in the tournament in Sri Lanka.
“Mentally I wanted to go on forever but I have decided to make way for the youngsters,” he said.
“I have no regrets. I made lots of friends but some people have misunderstood me. It was an honour to have played with Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. I never imagined I would play for Pakistan. It was my greatest moment.”
Shoaib, who made his international debut in 1997, took 178 wickets in 46 Tests, the last of which was against India at Bangalore in 2007.
He ended his career three wickets short of 250 in 163 One-day Internationals and took 19 wickets in 15 Twenty20 internationals.
Shoaib once cracked the 100mph barrier at the 2003 World Cup.
His career will always be remembered for a series of fitness problems and discipline violations that put the brakes on achieving his true potential.
True to his volatile nature, he was fined $2,000 for breaching discipline after the defeat to New Zealand following an on-field spat. The Pakistan camp played down the clash but that match proved to be Shoaib’s last international outing.
He was reduced to carrying drinks to his team mates on the field during the semifinal against India on Wednesday, an end the fast bowler would have despised when he announced his retirement midway through the showpiece event.