Shoaib to have surgery

[Vrock]

Shoaib Akhtar will have surgery to remove excess from both of his knees. This will result in his abscence for 6-8 weeks. Link here.

[Mr Cricket]

Good thing- Shoiab will most likely miss ODis right or tests that means more chances Rao Anjum and Yasir Arafat in test cricket thats great for Paki youngsters. We need to devolp young fast bowlers cause Shoiab isnt that young hes godd 3,4,5 years left in him. I say Yasir Arafat should be his replacement and Rao Anjum gets chances as well these bowlers are the futere opping fast bowling attack they have potential..

Bad thing- We miss out on a passe attack. Shoiab Akhtar the excement of fast bowling hes out for anthor series. I have a feeling that Shoiab's health isnt good enough to play cricket I hate to say it but thats how it looks like it. 2nd seires Shoiab has misssed out come on Shoiab you need a GREAT performence when you play next time.

[DomainK]

Wish him good luck. Hope he returns to cricket soon. I dont think Pakistan will have a big problem in the Lanka series in Shoaib's absence.

However, we saw in the last series that Pakistan's bowling attack looked weak when Shoaib was out. I deny to accept that there arent any more fast bowlers in Pakistan. I think the team needs to revise some strategies and pick the right bowlers.

[Quagmire]

Does anyone know if the surgery will affect the pace of his bowling when he returns?

[greg]

Here's hoping his surgery is more successful than Michael Vaughan's was.

[Mr Hutt]

I am not very optimistic that shaib will be able to bowl again at his regular pace or last more than a year, i think its time we called out the ranks of the young fast ballers!! Pakistan needs to think about the world cup sans shoaib

[Mr Cricket]

Do you guys think Shoiab should retire??

[Quagmire]

I hope Shoaib does not retire, he is an exciting bowler who can on his day destroy any batting line up that has ever played. Hopefully the shoulder surgury does not affect his pace.

[Zainub]

According to newpapers reports made available locally, the intial reports coming back from Australia suggest that he has much more serious problem then PCB had expected it to be. What's more, we're being told his recovery time period will much affected by his self imposed over usage of cortison (drug used by sportsmen primarily against inflation) during recent times. The Nation also suggested he was suffering from post surgery trauma.

Picture looking very dull and gloomy in other words, and given what I've read and heard, I'll consider it a minor miracle if he is still playing by the end of the year. Questions therefore asking if he should considering retirement are not too far fetched, this is by all means the most serious of career threatenning injuries Shoaib has ever had.

[Wanderer]

According to AFP, Shoaib is gearing up for a duel against the English fast bowlers in July.



Akhtar, who underwent twin knee operations in February, faces a fitness test in 10 days to determine his availability for Pakistan's tour of England starting next month. But has already resumed bowling in the nets.
"I am bowling at 90 miles per hour and thanks to Almighty Allah I am feeling no pain in my knees," Akhtar told AFP.
"I can't wait any more and when it's a tour to England it's fun.




I have always enjoyed playing against England and when a fast bowler plays in England he is all pumped up because conditions are ideal for him," said Akhtar.

"It would be a great battle because we have a world class bowling attack with Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Rana Naved-ul Hasan and myself and they too have quality fast bowlers, so it would be like a pace war," said Akhtar.

Source: © Sapa - AFP