Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream

[King]

Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream AFP February 11, 2007 The aeroplane may not take off in the Caribbean ? Getty Images Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan's premier fast bowler, fears that he could miss the World Cup after suffering a knee injury that may take three to four weeks to heal. Doctors have advised Akhtar to have scans to reveal the extent of the injury to the left knee, which was operated on, along with the right knee, in February last year. "I am devastated at the thought of missing the World Cup," Akhtar told AFP, just a month away from the start of the World Cup in the West Indies, which kicks off with Pakistan playing the hosts on March 13. "I was excited at the prospect of playing the World Cup. I want to help my team win the World Cup and I hope this injury is not worse and I am able to play some part in Pakistan's cup campaign." His selection in the squad was also subject to his clearing a doping test to be carried out on February 16. Akhtar tested positive for banned steroids in October last year. If scans reveal serious injury, then Akhtar will have to fly to Australia for an operation and it could rule him out of the World Cup. The latest injury scare to Akhtar compounds Pakistan's problems as they are already grappling with injury worries to key pacemen Umar Gul (ankle), Shabbir Ahmed (hamstring) and Mohammad Sami (back). To add to their problems, the International Cricket Council (ICC) turned down Pakistan's request for an extension to the February 13 deadline for naming their World Cup squad. Salim Altaf, the Pakistan Cricket Board's director of operations, said on Saturday that they had made a second request to the ICC as it would be difficult to name the squad without finding out the extent of the injuries. If the second request is also rejected, Pakistan would name their squad either on Monday or Tuesday, Altaf said. The 31-year-old Akhtar has been beset by injury. He was forced to return home from Pakistan's tour of South Africa after tearing his hamstring following his 4-36 on the first day of the second Test at Port Elizabeth last month. Akhtar missed the best part of last year due to injuries. He missed Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka and the Test series in England. Akhtar only returned for the one-day series against England, starting in August last year, but two months later he and fellow paceman Mohammad Asif were called back from India after both tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone. Akhtar was banned for two years and Asif for one year on doping charges in November but a month later their bans were controversially overturned on appeal. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has filed an appeal against the overturning of the ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, which is not expected to hear the case until April this year.

[King]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream It isn't a great loss for Pakistan considering he wouldn't play more than couple of games before he will pull out even if he were fit.

[MundaPakistani]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream It's been quite a morning for PAK....anyways let's hope he gets MATCH fit with in 40-50 days or so.

[King Tendulkar]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream I am sure he can take/inject something to speed up the recovery :hic:

[Holysmoke]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream damn, wanted a repeat of 2003 :hic:

[Guest dada_rocks]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream none wud be shedding tears this thug should not have been considered in first place

[Legend]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream man this is crap, just to let him not take drug test again and get in news so ppl have asked him to do such drama... crap crap...

[kumble_rocks]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream Looks like Drama Queen does not want to take the Feb 16 Dope Test. Must have taken tons of it and looks like it hasn't still worn off from the last dope test in Oct .

[Predator_05]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream They are f*cked without Shoaib. Now all the opposition have to do is see off Asif and knock runs off the rest...huge blow for Pakistan

[Bumper]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream

They are f*cked without Shoaib. Now all the opposition have to do is see off Asif and knock runs off the rest...huge blow for Pakistan

U talk as if, opponents are in a hurry to pile on the runs. If Pak's latest batting performance is any evidence of things to come, teams can afford to see off all the 5 bowlers & still canter to a 10 wicket win, or simply declare after 25 overs when batting first :hic: <Mandatory Goat Mouth for the day> BTW, I still think Pak is one of the best ODI teams out there :hic: </Mandatory Goat Mouth for the day>

[Guest dada_rocks]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream

They are f*cked without Shoaib. Now all the opposition have to do is see off Asif and knock runs off the rest...huge blow for Pakistan

He is harmless in one day cricket those good length balls get tonked around.. check his stats

[MundaPakistani]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream

They are f*cked without Shoaib. Now all the opposition have to do is see off Asif and knock runs off the rest...huge blow for Pakistan

those good length balls get tonked around.. check his stats

Tonked around? the guy has an economy rate of 4.09. :shrug:

[King Tendulkar]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream An economy rate of 4 is outstanding also he takes lots of wickets. Big blow for pakistan if no Akthar

[MundaPakistani]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream

An economy rate of 4 is outstanding also he takes lots of wickets. Big blow for pakistan if no Akthar

I was talking about M Asif....i think Akhtar's economy rate is around 4.6.

[gator]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream pakistan's bowling is the worst of the top 6 teams at the moment.... asif, naved, razzak, and afridi..... holy crap.... can we please play them instead of bangladesh in the prelims.... more chances of winning...

[MundaPakistani]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream

pakistan's bowling is the worst of the top 6 teams at the moment.... asif, naved, razzak, and afridi..... holy crap.... can we please play them instead of bangladesh in the prelims.... more chances of winning...

Don't forget about Gul and Kaneria :hmph: ....anyways i agree that Shoaib will be really missed. My bowling attack for the 1st ODI vs WI 1- Rana 2- Asif 3- Gul 4- kaneria 5- A Razzaq 6- Malik Rana's form and Gul's fitness will be vital but if Gul is also ruled out of the cup then we might be in a bit of trouble.

[Predator_05]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream hahahaah @ Rana the Banana-head leading your bowling attack

[King]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream MP, a very honest answer needed here. What are the chances of this Pakistan team making it to the semis and to the finals in your opinion?

[MundaPakistani]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream

MP' date=' a very honest answer needed here. What are the chances of this Pakistan team making it to the semis and to the finals in your opinion?[/quote'] With Shoaib and Asif: Fair chance...as good as any team's chance except AUS. Without Shoaib: 50/50...Rana's form and Gul's fitness will be the key. Without Shoaib and Asif: Only an outside chance. Without Shoaib, Asif and Gul: Very Slim.

[ali0786]

Re: Knee injury could end Shoaib's World Cup dream Asif, Gul, Afridi will be our key bowlers...the good thing for Pakistan is that pitches in Westindies are good for batting, and we bat all the way to #10, so that will help us a lot.