Shoaib controversy gets ugly
Friday, April 23 2004
The controversy surronding Shoaib Akhtar's doubtful injury has taken a turn for the worst, as the speedster has expressed his inability to appear before a medical inquiry committee on Sunday.
Akhtar is currently in Mumbai for a commercial shoot, and has sent a message to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) through his brother that he would be unavailable for the inquiry, because of prior commitments, and thus seeks more time.
Akhtar, as well as four other players have to appear before a four-member medical investigation commission set up by the PCB, as a result of the spate on injuries that the players suffered during the recent home Test series against India.
Meanwhile, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told BBC Hardtalk Pakistan that an MRI scan on Akhtar's back, after the third Test, had not revealed any serious problem.
Khan said, "Every player has a responsibility. Every player must go out and buck up the rest of his players, even if he is injured. It was a time when he had taken three wickets, we needed him on the field, we needed him to have a go at the Indians. But unfortunately he said he was not going out on the field. Now, I think that's a serious matter."
Khan added, "All right, he couldn't bowl, but he could have gone onto the field. The next day he batted with abandon."
Akhtar's status was also made clear by another PCB source, who told the local news agencies that the writing on the wall for Akhtar wasn't too good. If found guilty of faking the injury, he will be banned for several matches, thus putting him out of action for a long period.
Posted by Sudeep
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