spin is an art, pak has had some of the best (qadir taufiq mush saq. etc) but never have we "relied" on spin like today, for the first time since 60s. today I was waiting for the first ten to be over so that spin can kick in and do the trick LOL
Akhter is injured a lot ... but so was Waqar when he missed 92 WC, Muhammad Zahid's severe back injury that put an end to his international career, Lee was also out for a while - Holding, Imran, Garner all had fitness probs.
Teh difference between Shoaib and the bowlers you have mentioned is that these bowlers had genuine injuries not faked ones. I never saw an injured Waqar leaving his team to go jet skiing or dancing the night away with Indian actresses but not fit enough to bowl.