PCB must give ‘legend’ Akhtar proud exit

The Pakistan Cricket Board, which deprived the now-retired legendary pacer Shoaib Akhtar of an opportunity to play his swansong in the 2011 World Cup semifinal clash against India, should at least arrange a farewell match in his honour.

The PCB management could give Shoaib an ideal situation before he was bowed out of international cricket by at least giving him a chance to play his swansong against India in the recently concluded World Cup, The Nation reported.

Shoaib deserves a far better treatment, which the team captain and the selection committee denied, the paper said, adding that the team management and captain Shahid Afridi settled their personal scores with the Rawalpindi Express, and did not give him an opportunity to exit with his head high.

The paper said that Shoaib had the right to be given a final go for playing the crucial match against India after serving Pakistan cricket for over a decade.

Commenting on the temperamental behaviour of Shoaib, it argued that it is the “mentality of fast bowlers as they are aggressive by nature. But this doesn''t mean Shoaib had ever during his playing career misbehaved with any one at the playing field.”

It called Shoaib a true legend of Pakistan and a great ambassador abroad, wherever he accompanied the team during foreign tours.

Now that Shoaib has announced his retirement from international cricket, it is the national duty of PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt to at least arrange a farewell match in the honour of the speedster, as the board owes this to Shoaib after such a long affiliation between these two, the paper said.

The PCB and the country of Pakistan must appreciate the services of Shoaib, which he rendered for the nation during his 15 years of illustrious career, it added.