everything that man does is creates a controversy. nobody seeems to notice that he is the only pakistani bowler producing results consistently. they wanted to shorten his run up after the first game. when he did do that . . . then others questioned his commitment. what do you want him to do. i know he is a showboat but anyone shooting 5.25 ounce red bullets down 22 yards at 96 miles an hour deserves to be a showboat. what do you people think about it

Shoaib Akhtar is a 'showboy'. There is always news about him because he wants the cameras' attention. His long runup and his long hair are ther just for the cameras. His bowling against Aus has been good but not his attitude as you saw in the 2nd test 2nd innings when team needed him the most he shortens his runup or the 3rd test he again goes back to the pavilion. This is happening everytime now and I seriously believe he doesn't get injured as often as he makes out to be and if he is in good form, pitch is good for bowling and he is getting support from other bowlers he will be on the field and where its a batting pitch or the other bowlers will be having a bad day, he somehow will develop an injury and get off the pavilion.

He can be a showboat ONLY if he plays for the country with full committment without "breaking down", consistently. He has backed out quite a few times for "injuries" and found doing the opposite (jet skiing, dancing in club). He is an irresponisble strike bowler.

He is not the only one producing results...kaneria's recent record has been phenominal...
But like bob woolmer said "i d call him our tom cruise"
The guy has an auro and persona of his own...but i think he has rite now gone past his prime...he is at the stage where waqar yunis was in 1998 SA tour...which was the last time he clocked around 150kmph...

thats what it seems to happen a lot with akhtar
i hope he bes injured though and not acting

he's an unfit, natrually gifted bowler, who just can't seem to bowl from a shorter run-up for some reason. he compares himself to a airplane, well if an airplane breaks down across atlantic it's gonna fall in the ocean, and shoiab usually does fall into the ocean, almost always. i don't remember in recent times wen he hasn't broken down in the middle of a series, every damn series it's the same thing!

Shoaib's attitude has been a disgrace. How can you explain his performances & lack of effort in the last innings of Melbourned test & the whole of Sydney test. He has even forgotten to reverse swing the ball. He can just bowl fast & that's not good enough especially when you don't have the heart to fight.

he only performs once in a while or when he really has to. just read what waqar had to say about him.

SHoaib is a world class bowler he also perform good in mostly matches but the only problem is that he's not too good with the swing with the ball. i think waseem should teach him technique and also waqar they so eexperienced i think they should take this responsiblity and tain these bowlers.

---------SHoaib Rockks------------

calling shoaib a great bowler would be unfair to legends like wasim akram and imran khan who were truly great. shoaib is good at best. discipline and fitness is what makes a great bowler and in fact a great team. shoaib, unfortuantely has neither one of those attributes...but it is also unfair to single him out and critisize him for his lack of commitent. the whole team is a group of lethargic and complacent individuals who are surviving merely on their talent. half the team is out of commision with back problems, dizziness, diarrhea or whatever. shoaib can soar like a plane for as long as he wants, but as far as being great goes, he still hasnt left the ground!
:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

yes I agree with this post. Its not his fault the batsmen are not supporting him. He is giving 100% but what canhe do if batsmen dont support him. He is disheartened when we are bowled out on a low score.

shoaib is mostly playin good for pakistan he is always givin 100% but its not his fault dat da team is not suporting him i dont think he is showboat but if he is he can be one cuz he is doing soo much for pakistan u kno when shoaib is not playin i think da game is boring he brings like diffrent meaning to da game i dont kno wat but its juss a diffrent way of watch da game i luv his run up really long n cool

Shaoib is definately 1 of the greatest bowlers.... but every good bowler need support from the other end. if he bowls good, but the next bowler come and give runs in his over, and not put pressure on hte batsman... the batsman gets confidence... u need to keep constant pressure... Shoaib does that from 1 end.. but there's no 1 to support him from the other end...

u guyz criticizing him for not doin his best at Melbourne... when we had already lost the match... yes, i kno we are not suppose to give up.. but think abt it... AUS only needed 126 runs, with 10 wickets and almost 2 days in their hand.... i dont think it was possible in anyway..

Look at all the work he did in the First match, and the First inning of 2nd match....

cmon guyz

the thing about the injuries is that this is not really his fault. yeah he was acting when he got injured and so were those three doctors in england who proved it remember that. we ne need a real physio and a real prsonal trainer or else these people wont stay fit. take shoib out and what do we have for a bowling line up. kaneria cant play odi because our batting sucks. we threw two oof our best bowlers out in disgrace after WC2003. we dont really traain anyone to take over either.

show-eb is a great ball and brings a lot of excitement to cricket
he has the attitude of a tiger. really puts everything in n wants to create great alarm when he comes on.

but at the current time he is one of our only hopes in bowling, so he shu be careful abt his fitness and not just his next photo opp