Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
I think he is much more talented than Waqar (With Wasim, it’s debatable). Shoaib has all the tools to become a 450 test wickets bowler. If only he had the fitness and the attitude to back up his talents in his younger days 
.
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
I dispute that. Waqar at his peak was a more destructive and devastating bowler than even Wasim. Wasim had more variety but Waqar was more lethal. Have you forgotten the 1992 and 1996 series in England. 4 or 5 English wickets would fall after lunch in no time resulting in new words in British tabloids like ‘waqared’ and ‘hicked’. Hick was Waqar’s bunny in 1992. The batsman knew the inswinging yorker was coming but he could do little about it.
And I don’t agree that Actor is better than Waqar simply because the latter does not swing the ball as much as Waqar used to in his prime.
Waqar was no longer the same bowler after his back injury in 1996. So his peak years were from 1989-1996. Wasim on the other hand had more variety and because of his short run-up and quick-arm action was able to remain at the top of his game for much longer (1985-2000 series v Windies)
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
My assertion is simply based on observations like how Waqar learnt late to use the slower ball effectively, while Shoaib has been using it ever since he started his career. Shoaib’s bouncer, in my opinion, is also better bowled than Waqar used to bowl. In short, Shoaib has much more variety and this is all pure talent because he started using them without much guidance. Waqar spent almost seven to eight years before he started using these varieties effectively.
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
^
but shoaib did not have much chance to show all that and waqar did 
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
Good points. Akhtar’s life story could have been so different if only he had been more interested in the graft than the glamour side of cricket. Waqar will always be remembered by purists as an all-time great. The same can’t be said about Actor.
Also don’t forget that Waqar holds the proud record of being the second fastest (jointly with Lillee) bowler to 200 test wickets
http://www.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BOWLING/FASTEST_CAREER_TEST_WKTS/TEST_FASTEST_TO_200_WKTS.html
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
Oh, I do agree with Waqar’s achievements being greater than Akhtar; don’t get me wrong on that. If only had Shoaib been a bit less carefree about his career 
.
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
Man, people like goldenbo and rational aren't getting it. Shoaib Akhtar, in his prime was an amazing bowler, right up there with Wasim and Waqar. You can't always get great swing with the ball but 100 miles an hour is pretty hard to negate even if you're bowling gun-barrel sight.
The_game, I agree that its a really big miss that Shoaib could not kepp his fitness and attitude in check.
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
Agreed on this one. But greatness has to be measured over a period of time and should not be confined to a handful of bursts spread over a career lasting a decade. 43 tests (admittedly still good bowling figures) for someone who’s been around for a decade is a pathetic track record
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/42655.html
some truth in that because the ball has to spend sometime in the air for it to swing but Waqar in his prime was clocked at 95-96 mph and still got the ball to swing appreciably
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
Look, I’m not saying that Akhtar has achieved greather things then the two Ws. They are miles ahead in their accomplishments. All I’m saying is that if he had kept himself fit and under control, he *may *have surpassed their records, certainly the number of wickets they took.
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
That IF is the real bone of contention :D
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
Oh tang naa kar yaar pappu .
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
achcha baapu, lagta hai kissi dukhti rag ko chere dya main nay
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
Chapter of Akhtar is certainly closing and I hoped he had the chance to play in this World Cup, but the problem is Cricket and member board officials like to play God in this sport. They get to decide who plays and who does not; they always have their moments of choosing morality and doing the right thing.
It is no other columnist job to criticize his career and life because most of the time they are doing it just for the sake of bias. How much same people respected Wasim and Waqar during their time is known to all of us. They accused them for ball tampering when they invented in-swing, but when Flintof does it, its talent and fantastic.
What Akhtar did for Cricket is a long debate, but he did not revolutionized bowling like Imran, Wasim and Waqar...he had his moments that are etch in the history of Cricket just like his bad moments. It’s a complex issue and you can not just write the obituary of his career right now.
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
***Sigh ***
***Not returning calls ! ***
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
if only...
wasted talent...shoaib at his peak was just awesome
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
^^
Assuming PCB retain their policy of playing without Akhtar and his career is finished, Akhtar ended his career when he was still at his best.
Comparing players is never a good idea as every player has his own positives and negatives. But Akhtar was a match winner during his career. Akhtar-less Pakistan has always struggled against competitive and better teams despite the availability of strong bowling attack (i.e. Waqar and Wasim)
Pak only won 3 Tests against SA.
1.) Pakistan won 1st Test against South Africa, at Durban, 26 Feb - 2 Mar (1997-98)
At the start of his career, for Pakistan, Akhtar (12 1 43 5) helped Pakistan win their first test against SA.
http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1997-98/PAK_IN_RSA/PAK_RSA_T2_26FEB-02MAR1998.html
[/quote]
**2.) Pak win 1st Test series against SA (2003-04 SA in Pak) **
Akhtar (14.3 2 36 4) won another Test for Pak playing against SA. Pak won their only test series against SA.
http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2003-04/RSA_IN_PAK/SCORECARDS/RSA_PAK_T1_17-21OCT2003.html
3.) Akhtar came back to international cricket after an year-long injuries and won another Test against SA. (2006-07 Pak in SA)
No player in cricket could ever had faced more pressure (regarding performance) than Akhtar but he still delivered his best (11 2 36 4 3.27) and won another test for his country.
http://content-pak.cricinfo.com/rsavpak/engine/match/250666.html
In fact Pakistan could have won the series if PCB officials and team management could have resolved their issues that chased Akhtar throughout his career.
Summary:
Akhtar is (yet) another player wasted by bad management.
Summarizing his performance (in innings) that set the tests for Pakistan playing against SA:
1997-98: 12 1 43 5
2003-04: 14.3 2 36 4
2006-07: 11 2 36 4
From 1997 to 2007 his performance was much more consistent than any other player. Akhtar entered and won the first test against SA and (despite injuries, clashes and mysteries), he delivered his best and won the last test against SA in his final appearance to date.
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
thanks for information brother
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
Janaaza rok kay mera, woh is andaaz sey bolay,
Mohalla hum nay kaha tha, tum to dunya hee chor chalay.
Re: RIP: Shoaib Akhtar (1997-2007)
InshAllah Actor will be back. He will not learn from his mistakes. We will see him on and off again untill some other bowler of immense talent surfaces. That is only when PCB will disown him. Untill then stay tuned to more from
"The Akhtar Chronicles" Edited by PCB, written by Shoaib Akhtar, published by KK.