Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Ejaz Butt denied on Friday any statement regarding closing door of cricket on pacer Shoaib Akhtar once and for all. It may be noted that a website quoted Ijaz Butt ruling out the return of controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar to international cricket.
This led to controversy, as former cricketers including Aamir Sohail and Zaheer Abbas expressed astonishment over the statement of PCB Chairman. They were of the view that PCB Chairman should not issue such a statement against Shoaib Akhter. Shoaib Akhter had to undergo a liposuction surgery to remove extra fat from his body without seeking any permission from the board.
The PCB was unhappy over this action of fast bowler, sources in PCB told Business Recorder. Aamir Sohail said that Shoaib have long services for cricket and PCB Chairman should not have issued this statement. He was of the view that Shoaib is facing some health problems but this kind of statement should not be issued.
It may be recalled that Shoaib Akhter set a world record by clocking 161.3 km/h (100.2 mph) twice. His ability to bowl fast yorkers well disguised slow balls, swinging deliveries (including reverse swing), and sharp bouncers have made him lethal even on dead pitches. However, Shoaib has never been far from controversy, often accused of not being a team player. Shoaib was sent back home from a tour in Australia in 2005.
A year later he was embroiled in a drug scandal after testing positive for a banned substance. However, the ban imposed on him was lifted on his appeal. In September 2007, the PCB banned Shoaib for an indefinite period for the alleged brawl with his team-mate Mohammad Asif. On 1 April 2008 Shoaib was banned for five years for publicly criticising the policies of the PCB.
Ejaz Butt told reporters on return from abroad that former skipper Younus Khan will be available for cricket series against Australia to be held in England, however, only the Selection Committee will decide final team as well as skipper for this tour. It may be noted that Younus Khan indicated that he would be available for the series against Australia.
He also announced that he would soon be appearing in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy - Pakistan's premier first-class cricket tournament - to regain his form that deserted him in the Champions Trophy in South Africa and a three-match one-day series against the New Zealand earlier this month. Talking about selection of Misbah ul Haq for the Test series against New Zealand, Ejaz Butt said the team management selected Misbah, however, he could not be able to play the first Test.