I know that this article has been referred to in another thread but I thought it deserved a dedicated thread.
So here are the highlights from Peter Roebuck’s no-holds barred column in Sydney Morning Herald
Why Shoaib Akhtar should never again set foot on a cricket pitch
An impostor whose reputation relies on a handful of bursts spread over a career lasting a decade, he has been more trouble than he is worth.
**Over the years he has also been suspected of throwing, and worse. His devastating burst against the Australians in Colombo a few years ago was as illegal as it was theatrical. **
Akhtar’s willingness to mess with the ball was evident in the same contest. Although they were loath to admit it, the umpires repeatedly scrutinised the ball and were clearly unhappy with its condition. Subsequently Akhtar’s county colleagues talked openly about the methods he used to disrupt the ball. No wonder umpires keep a wary eye on his comrades.
Now he has been exposed as a drug cheat. The game is up.
Throughout, Akhtar has been more interested in the glamour than the graft. His image as a charming rogue conceals an outlook that has damaged the reputation of every team he has represented. Far from sustaining a great tradition of fast bowling in his country, he has undermined it.
*]Far from capturing the imagination as a swashbuckling paceman, Akhtar swiftly deteriorated into a strutting caricature. It is high time stumps were called on an increasingly demeaning contribution.
Everybody kicks you gladly when you are down. I'm not surprised. Sure, if Roebuck had had 1/100th of the talent Shoaib has, he wouldn't be known as the armchair critic he really is :o .
Throughout, Akhtar has been more interested in the glamour than the graft. His image as a charming rogue conceals an outlook that has damaged the reputation of every team he has represented.** Far from sustaining a great tradition of fast bowling in his country, he has undermined it.**
aussies are jus bitter and hurting rite now...so they're lashing out...shoaib terrorized them on their own pitches and they needed the repeated help of their umpires...ie hair, parker, harper,etc.
theyre just sour that lee will never be a fraction as good as akhtar and that everyone has already written them off for this world cup...so let them say what they want...theyve always been envious of our talent
Are you talking about Pak tour of Australia 2004/05?
If your talking about the test series, the umpires were not Australian.
If your talking about the VB One Day Series with Pak, Aus and WI, Shoaib didn’t take a wicket in his 1.5 games he played before leaving the 2nd game injured.
Peter Roebuck is an idiot. Never set foot again on cricket field? What about Shane Warne, who not only set foot on a cricket field after his positive dope test (not to mention involvement with bookies, sex scandals, etc), but set all kinds of records. How can you apply one set of rules to a drug cheater and different ones to another?
Shoaib Akhtar may be perhaps one of the most talented player Pakistan has ever produced. I still remember his spell in ODI in Aus where he bowled Ponting, etc.
However, he has such a waste. Had he kept himself fit and his ffet on the ground, Pakistan would have been a much more dominant side in the last decade.
Shoaib onr of the most talented? Are you serious? He has speed alright but to consider him to be most talented in company of bowlers like Wasim, Waqar, Imran etc. is not on
