PCB could rope in Shoaib Akhtar as bowling consultant

The former fast-bowler has already been contacted for the role

January 18, 2023
Shoaib Akhtar retired from international cricket in 2011 — AFP

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering roping in former speedster Shoaib Akhtar as the bowling consultant for the national team.

According to sources, the world’s fastest bowler can be given key role in coming days.

Sources added that the former fast-bowler has already been contacted and he has also shown interest in working to improve the performance of the players.

Akhtar will soon meet the chairman of PCB Management Committee, Najam Sethi in Lahore where he will likely be offered a role in board.

Sources added that Akhtar had also shown interest in improving policy making of the board.

After his retirement from cricket, the Rawalpindi Express had several times raised his voice for the betterment of the Pakistani team.

The former right-armer retired from international cricket after the 2011 World Cup.

The “Rawalpindi Express” burst on to the scene as the fastest bowler of his generation even though he did not possess the cleanest of actions.

His long run up — and he defied many a coach to persist with that — and the albatross-like celebration after every dismissal made him a spectators’ delight but his temperament often gave team management headaches.

Ball-tampering allegations, numerous disciplinary issues, hitting team mate Mohammad Asif with a bat in 2007, doping accusations and several other controversies and injuries never allowed him to concentrate fully on his game.

Since his debut against West Indies in 1997, the pace bowler featured in just 46 Test matches, claiming 178 wickets and he was perceived as vulnerable to the rigours of the game’s longer version.

He was more regular in shorter formats, having played 163 one-day internationals, claiming 247 wickets. 

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