In a bid to recognise the services of fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar for Pakistan, the regional cricketing bodies close to the maverick pacer are planning to organise exhibition matches to hand a grand farewell to the retired fast-bowler.
The Rawalpindi Express had an unceremonious end to his career after he lost the confidence of the team management which denied him chance to play his last match after he announced his retirement from international cricket.
Exhibition match by Rawalpindi
Consequently, the Rawalpindi Region – where the pacer launched his domestic career – is now planning to hold an exhibition match to honour him.
“We will not let the Rawalpindi Express come to such an unceremonious halt,” Rawalpindi Region President Syed Naeem Akhtar told The Express Tribune. “Akhtar has been of great service to the nation and deserves a better farewell.”
The fast-bowler, according to officials, is ready to come out of retirement to play his last match for Pakistan but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which was unhappy with the pacer’s disciplinary record during the World Cup, is unlikely to give him the chance.
Naeem, who is also a member of the PCB’s Governing Board, said that plans have already been initiated to hold an exhibition match to bid adieu to one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history.
“We will invite national cricketers to the match so they can bid farewell to the great fast-bowler,” he said while hinting to organise the match around the national Twenty20 tournament to be held in Faisalabad from June 24. “The match is not possible in the near future due to the absence of the national team and it’s being planned on the sidelines of the T20 tournament when most of the national stars who want to feature in the match would be present.”
Islamabad region joins in
Meanwhile, the Islamabad Region – where Akhtar is currently associated with – has demanded an international farewell match for the bowler.
“He is a great cricketer and deserves to play his farewell match for Pakistan,” said Islamabad Region President Shakil Ahmed Sheikh. “We have plans to hold an exhibition match for Akhtar but we want to see him playing his last match for Pakistan on an international stage. If the teams are not visiting Pakistan then a match can be arranged in Dubai or he should be given the chance to play in the team’s forthcoming series against West Indies.”
Selector supports plan
Meanwhile, a PCB selector has supported the idea of holding the exhibition match to honour Akhtar.
“It is a good idea to hold a farewell match for him,” he said before refusing calls to give him a chance to play for the national team. “There is no doubt he was a great player but it would not be wise to disturb the team combination to facilitate a particular individual.”
Akhtar, who took 178 Test wickets in 46 match and 247 wickets in 163 One-Day Internationals, announced his retirement from all formats of cricket during the 2011 World Cup while expressing the desire to play the remaining matches of the tournament.
He was, however, overlooked for the remaining matches on fitness grounds and a 28-run over against New Zealand remains his last memories on the international circuit.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2011.
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