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By Sarah Cheema
Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will retire from international cricket after the World Cup 2011. Better known as the “Rawalpindi Express”, Shoaib Akhtar was constantly battling the problem of fitness in the 2011 World Cup.
“I have taken this decision after much thought. Pakistan’s last match in this World Cup will also be my last. I hope that will be the final on April 2.” – Shaoib Akhtar during a press conference in Colombo Srilanka (17th March 2011).
Akhtar, who made his international debut in 1997, took 178 wickets in 46 Tests, the last of which was against India at Bangalore in 2007. He is three wickets short of 250 in 163 one-day internationals and has taken 19 wickets in 15 Twenty20 internationals.
His career will always be remembered for a series of fitness problems, discipline violations as well as a doping offence that put the brakes on achieving his true potential.
