Shoaib Akhtar and team ethics

[Shaka]

It's been reported that following the previous game Shoaib confronted Woolmer and Inzimam over being 'demoted' to 3rd seamer role complaining about the new ball being given to Naved Rana. Woolmer has denied any conflict and claims that it's the press trying to undermine team spirit. Having watched Shoaib coming on first change though he certainly didn't look happy and he went for something like 20 off two overs before being replaced by Razzaq.

A couple of points: firstly, Shoaib has to understand this is a team game and Shoaib's use of the new ball has not been as effective as a bowler of his repute should be. His replacement Rana has used it very well in contrast. My view is that if Shoaib wants to continue to play for Pakistan he has to go with the team decision and be prepared to give it his best shot WHEREVER he is asked to bowl.

secondly, no one is indispensable, especially if they fail to show discipline or undermine team morale. Shoaib has been guilty of it in the past and I would have hoped under a coach who has backed him he would be prepared to knuckle down and work hard...basically earn the new ball, or give his role as 3rd seamer everything he's got. I don't get the impression watching him that he's doing that just now. I hope that changes otherwise he might find his next role will be watching from the sidelines.

[Beny]

Shoaib, like Lee seems to be more intersted in Photoshoots than playing cricket for his country. I'd drop him for a game or two just to put him back in his place and prove to him that he's not the only player in the PAK team.

[Shaka]

Beny you might know better, but for me Lee goes through dips in form whereas Shoaib if he gets in a huff just stops trying. Both Robin Jackman and Ramiz Raja weren't happy with Shoaib's listless efforts and his negative body language. For a senior player to have such an attitude just isn't good enough.

[fair_&_balance]

His idiotic behaviour has lot to do with Pakistani fans obsession with pace and his coconut like brain.
Fans blew him too much when he started his career and he just got bad and bad. Yes he has talent and can bowl fast but no one is bigger than team. He has been doing this for few years now and has not given any match winning performance sicne NZL tour last year. PCB's actions in past has also encouraged him. PCB always seems to tolerate tantrums of big stars simply because they are good player and won matches.This has set poor example and Idiots like him think that they can get away with doing these stuff.

He needs to be shown door for al 1 yr.This will bring him back to reality.
Pakistani team can still win without him. Didnt they win today with no contribution from him.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by fair_&_balance

He needs to be shown door for al 1 yr.This will bring him back to reality.
Pakistani team can still win without him. Didnt they win today with no contribution from him.

f&b, I don't think there needs to be put a time limit for showing Shoaib the door. Only Woolmer knows whether Shoaib really complained about being given the role of first change bowler, but Shoaib for me has shown little effort to either cut down his run up or give his new role 100%. His body language and sulky demeanour say a lot....Inzimam had to take him off after 3 overs of rubbish and when he brought him back he bowled so badly he was taken off immediately and ended up bowling only 4 overs despite being our 'premier' fast bowler.

I would simply say if he's not bowling well don't play him. Anyone can have a bad day but I wasn't the only one who thought he didn't look interested and that's not something that can be tolerated. It'll be interesting to see what Woolmer made of it all.

[fair_&_balance]

Originally Posted by Shaka

f&b, I don't think there needs to be put a time limit for showing Shoaib the door. Only Woolmer knows whether Shoaib really complained about being given the role of first change bowler, but Shoaib for me has shown little effort to either cut down his run up or give his new role 100%. His body language and sulky demeanour say a lot....Inzimam had to take him off after 3 overs of rubbish and when he brought him back he bowled so badly he was taken off immediately and ended up bowling only 4 overs despite being our 'premier' fast bowler.

I would simply say if he's not bowling well don't play him. Anyone can have a bad day but I wasn't the only one who thought he didn't look interested and that's not something that can be tolerated. It'll be interesting to see what Woolmer made of it all.

Shaka,
I disagree a bit. Even if someone is playing good but effecting team morale & team spirit by his behaviour outside the field then he should be shown the door. Because this thing work like cancer. It just make you weak from inside.
If this is continued and couple of boys bought his Idea then you will see this impact after couple of matches. There shouldnot be anyone bigger than the Team. That was my point.

[Rachael]

Am I right in thinking that Woolmer once had the services of one Alan Donald at his disposal? If I'm getting the story straight.. Woolmer took the unprecedented step of having his premier strike bowler come on at 1st change.. somewhere around the 15 over mark. I believe the reasoning was that any old nit could do OK with a hard a shiny new ball... against batsmen who haven't got "in"... and that matches were frequently lost when the pressure (and fielding restrictions) were removed.

If this IS Woolmer's reasoning.. and it was OK for the mighty Alan Donald.. who the **** does wee Shoaib Akhtar think he is to complain?

[Shaka]

You have a point f & b but I think this is down to Woolmer now. We have all been here before with Shoaib meesing Waqar around, messing Miandad around and if he's not prepared to take the fresh start he's been offered then yes it's time he was given a long holiday.

Robin Jackman wa saying today in the commentary box that he loved watching Shoaib bowl because his good spells can be spectacular...but these days his good spells were being outnumbered by his bad spells. I think he might have one more match to show he is prepared to play whatever role the team requires because for sure anyone who thinks they have a 'special' role isn't likely to last long...especially if they aren't producing results either.

[Shaka]

Originally Posted by Rachael

Am I right in thinking that Woolmer once had the services of one Alan Donald at his disposal? If I'm getting the story straight.. Woolmer took the unprecedented step of having his premier strike bowler come on at 1st change.. somewhere around the 15 over mark. I believe the reasoning was that any old nit could do OK with a hard a shiny new ball... against batsmen who haven't got "in"... and that matches were frequently lost when the pressure (and fielding restrictions) were removed.

That is exactly the role expected of Shoaib as explained by Woolmer. You hit it on the head. But Shoaib didn't look to me like he wanted to give it a good go. He was snatching his hat from Taufell at the end of each over...I don't know if it was in anger at his own ineptness but his body language was terrible from the first ball.

Personally I don't think he makes proper use of the new ball in any case. I've said long before this that he'd be better brought on 1st change and I'm not surprised Woolmer made the move.

[Rachael]

Darren Gough always reckoned that if he hadn't taken a wicket within the first 2 overs with the new ball he'd "failed": he might do Ok later in the spelll.. or even later in the innings.. as a partnership breaker.. but he reckoned the new ball bowler was there for what he could do in just 12 deliveries - none of which should be wasted, none of which should allow the batsman an easy "sighter", and every one of which should at least have the batsman wondering whether he had to play.

How's Akhtar measure up on that scale?