"Getting Sachin Tendulkar out for a duck in India, that feeling is just unmatched" : Shoaib Akhtar

[Abdullah719]

"Getting Sachin Tendulkar out for a duck in India, that feeling is just unmatched" : Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar speaking on TV:

"My only target when I went in the field was to do nothing but destroy the opposition"

"I used to build it up - my run-up was fluent, my hair would be flying in the air, the batsman was afraid"

"I asked Viv Richards, Sir if I ever bowled to you would you be scared? He said, what do you mean scared? I would be dead-scared"

"Playing in India has it own attraction but we got a lot of appreciation from the Chennai crowd"

"They love Sachin a lot in India and they had never seen him be out on the first ball before"

"People got upset because they had never him get out first ball and then he was run-out in that fashion in Calcutta which made it a bit more heated"

"All captains I played under were good but all of them had their own limitations "

"I have to say that Wasim Akram has to be on top of that list"

"Without causing too much controversy, let me say that If I had Imran Khan as my captain, I would probably have had 500 wickets today"

"I will never accept an offer for bowling coach for Pakistan, I have no intentions of joining the PCB"

"I will love to volunteer to help"

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shoaib Akhtar "Getting Sachin Tendulkar out for a duck in India, that feeling is just unmatched especially in front of their crowd" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/D6ButV0UMH">pic.twitter.com/D6ButV0UMH</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/861244329846865921">May 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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[Hawkeye]

The bowler who attracted generations towards cricket. And showed the world what express pace bowling is.

Sight to behold.

 

[khan991]

Once in a generation type of bowler who use to bring great excitement to the game after every bowl. It was a pleasure watching him bowl but sadly his body couldnt hold up to play longer especially in the test arena.

 

[Major]

Yes he got tendulkar for zero, but how did the careers of both players turn out after that?

Tendulkar went on to become a legend.

Shoaib well...... we know he bowls fast, but thats about it

 

[Mamoon]

The feeling was also unmatched when Tendulkar demolished him at Centurion, and he chickened out like a coward. One of our major low-points of the decade. The most anticipated ODI for 4 years ending in tears.

 

[Slog]

Yes he got tendulkar for zero, but how did the careers of both players turn out after that?

Tendulkar went on to become a legend.

Shoaib well...... we know he bowls fast, but thats about it

Well he ended up with a better record than any fast or medium pace bowler in the entire history of tendulkar's country

 

[czar]

Imagine the level of Greatness of a Batsman whose wicket is being cherished as the most memorable experience by a lethal bowler like Shoaib.

For Tendulkar though, Shoiab was just any other good bowler. Not someone against whom performing can be considered as an achievement.

 

[Mamoon]

Nonetheless, those two yorkers were incredible. They made Akhtar a superstar in the space of three minutes. I vividly remember the scenes and the occasion, although I was very young. I was at a hospital where my mother was admitted, and was watching with a horde of people in the cafeteria, which erupted when Shoaib delivered the most iconic deliveries for Pakistan since Wasim in the 1992 World Cup Final.

 

[KingKhanWC]

The two deliveries to Dravid and Tendulkar were imo the best sight in the history of Asian test cricket.

 

[czar]

"Without causing too much controversy, let me say that If I had Imran Khan as my captain, I would probably have had 500 wickets today"

Missed this Gem. Imran Khan this, Imran Khan that.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Missed this Gem. Imran Khan this, Imran Khan that.

He had a very high and somewhat deluded opinion of himself, which worked for him in his playing days. But now it just comes across as boasting. Imran or not, he was never getting anywhere close to 500 wickets with his style of bowling.

 

[Fahdi]

Yes he got tendulkar for zero, but how did the careers of both players turn out after that?

Tendulkar went on to become a legend.

Shoaib well...... we know he bowls fast, but thats about it

Yes Shoaib could have and should have had a longer career and achieved more but you are implying as if he was a nobody. Shoaib ended up as a legend of the game and a Pakistani great without a doubt. He has bowled plenty of memorable spells and has one of the best strike rates in Test cricket history. He ends up in plenty of all time Pakistan 11s and some people such as Andrew Strauss even go as far to place him in their all time test 11s; and I should mention his 11 includes Sachin Tendulker as well.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Yes he got tendulkar for zero, but how did the careers of both players turn out after that?

Tendulkar went on to become a legend.

Shoaib well...... we know he bowls fast, but thats about it

So Shoaib isn't a legend?

 

[shafkath]

Shoaib is a hero. Shocked to see his legendary status questioned. All be it just by major and no other posts.

Many think shoaib under achieved but he actually over achieved. He had to overcome some serious medical issues to play as much as he did.

 

[Abdullah719]

The two deliveries to Dravid and Tendulkar were imo the best sight in the history of Asian test cricket.

See 'em again.

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[KingKhanWC]

Tony Greig;s commentary was legendary. One would have thought Tendulkar knew what was coming but seemed to attempt a straight drive but I guess even if he attempted a dead bat block the stumps would have been rattled.

 

[big_gamer007]

Wish I could see another peak Shoaib in my lifetime... Absolute delight to watch when in full flow..

 

[Sadevdesai]

Says lots about BOTH !!!

 

[Ab Fan]

Think that delivery to Dravid was regarded as the "ball of the century". Says how good those deliveries were.

 

[JoniInsafian]

He had a very high and somewhat deluded opinion of himself, which worked for him in his playing days. But now it just comes across as boasting. Imran or not, he was never getting anywhere close to 500 wickets with his style of bowling.

He would.... without injuries; he had the skill.... If he had shortened his run-up, with his swing and accuracy, even at 140 kph, he would be lethal.... Just look at 2011 WC against Sri Lanka at 36....

Shoaib is one of the greatest fastest bowlers in history... Fastest + Great skill (25 average in tests and 24 in ODIs).... No asian country has had a better fast bowler except Pakistan....

 

[JoniInsafian]

Shoaib was definitely top 5 bowler of the 2000s.... With McGrath, Steyn, Shane Bond and Anderson.... Arguably above Anderson and Bond so top 3....

Indians making fun of him would kill for 1 bowler like him....

 

[shaz619]

He would.... without injuries; he had the skill.... If he had shortened his run-up, with his swing and accuracy, even at 140 kph, he would be lethal.... Just look at 2011 WC against Sri Lanka at 36....

Shoaib is one of the greatest fastest bowlers in history... Fastest + Great skill (25 average in tests and 24 in ODIs).... No asian country has had a better fast bowler except Pakistan....

He shouldn't have been bowling in the first place, forget calling him the pindi express; Akhtar should be called The Magic Man; he defied science and cheated death given the abnormalities he was born with to become one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. PERIOD.

 

[Syed1]

If I'm very honest the Sachin delivery wasn't even that good, it was a low full toss that snuck under the bat. However, the Dravid yorker was truly unplayable.

 

[shaz619]

If I'm very honest the Sachin delivery wasn't even that good, it was a low full toss that snuck under the bat. However, the Dravid yorker was truly unplayable.

It swinged through the air which made it very difficult for Sachin, the moment it left Akhtars fingres he knew he had his man

 

[Chrish]

He was the most priced wicket at that time. I remember reading somewhere that in one of the WC games, the news of Sachin getting out was directly delivered to Pakistani parliament in the middle of the meeting!

 

[Napa]

I suppose it is testament to SRT's greatness that twenty years later people can still be excited about his dismissal.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Tendulkar was always vulnerable to the in-dipper like Shafiq.

 

[Speedster777]

The fastest bowler in history of cricket. It was sheer thrill and excitement to watch him run in to bowl. No bowler can match him. He was deadly on his day would single handedly destroy entire batting line up.

 

[zn426]

And I only got to watch this guy live AFTER he retired, at the All Stars cricket match, in New York.

If he had only played T20s he would have probably averaged 10 or some other ridiculously low average. He could probably have bowled even faster since there was no need to worry about getting worn out.

 

[silent ischemia]

He was the most priced wicket at that time. I remember reading somewhere that in one of the WC games, the news of Sachin getting out was directly delivered to Pakistani parliament in the middle of the meeting!

Bas Kar na Yaar

 

[silent ischemia]

Akhtar was a beast. A player who would pull the crowd towards the game. I have hardly missed a game in Pindi cricket stadium and the atmosphere generated by the crowd every time he used to run to bowl was amazing. I miss him and whenever I drive across the stadium I Iget those goose bumps as I am reminded of those thrilling moments

 

[Ilan Bluestone]

Possibly Pakistan's most gifted cricketer and yet a disappointment. Of course he is still one of the best pacers ever, but his lack of humbleness and focus to being the best will always be his downfall. Had he focused on his fitness, put in the hard work, ate right, not delve into vices, and kept his head down and not open his mouth so much, we could be talking about the best pacer ever. Just didn't have the brains to do it. So brash and egotistical.

I'm sure that even though he knows he will be remembered as not just a Pakistani great but a cricketing great, he will also know that he could have been so much more.

Attitude and aggression is right in doses, but hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard, and had he been the hardest working to go along with his talent, he wouldn't be such a controversial figure. For some reason our players always let it get to their heads and never remain humble and down to Earth. Be it that they walk outside and are seen as icons, or they let the rush of their success get to their head, I cannot remember any graceful Pakistani retiree as of yet. Wasim might be the only one, and even he had quite a few black marks in his career.

The irony:

"Without causing too much controversy, let me say that If I had Imran Khan as my captain, I would probably have had 500 wickets today"
- See more at: http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...tched-quot-Shoaib-Akhtar#sthash.GZpZf5TD.dpuf
Read more at http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...atched-quot-Shoaib-Akhtar#6hEDSCDwX8kGPIZZ.99

Though I do think for some of Pakistani ex-crickters, they simply say ridiculous things so they can stay relevant in the media and have analyst jobs, I think with Akhtar, he is simply this odd individual.

Why our players simply lack grace in their retirement days disappoints me. I think Misbah will be the only one who may sail into the sunset without ridiculous statements, but then again, when Mohammad Yousuf retired, I would never imagine him to say such mind-boggling things either.

 

[spade]

That was a quality in-dipping yorker, beat the master with pace and movement.

 

[msb314]

Why do your players cling on to such irrelevant moments...

I bet Sachin doesn't even remember that Akhtar dismissed him that game.

Akhtar is a borderline Pakistani legend and should have mentioned some of his more memorable spells like his bowling vs. England in 2005 at Multan rather than recall single wickets.

 

[Haroon786]

Yes he got tendulkar for zero, but how did the careers of both players turn out after that?

Tendulkar went on to become a legend.

Shoaib well...... we know he bowls fast, but thats about it

Tendulkar was already a legend by then, he would go on to cement that status and establish his argument for potentially being the greatest years later.

Akhtar didn't fulfil his potential mainly due to his own doing (refusal to shorten run up and focus on movement and hedonistic lifestyle) but having the PCB as his employer never helped someone who was always looking for a sound leader to direct his career. Nevertheless, despite the many disappointments, he still churned out a career that would be described as legendary if not shortlived for one that was well over a decade long.

This moment along with Dravid's dismissal remains the definitive moment of Shoaib's career IMO.

 

[Major]

At the end of the day, shoaib isnt a legend.

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

Why do your players cling on to such irrelevant moments...

I bet Sachin doesn't even remember that Akhtar dismissed him that game.

Akhtar is a borderline Pakistani legend and should have mentioned some of his more memorable spells like his bowling vs. England in 2005 at Multan rather than recall single wickets.

Oh ! he remembers . Shoaib ain't letting him forget that !.Shoaib Akthar was a beautiful sight n WC 99 .No other bowler has had my blood rushing like shoaib did , not even Wasim !

 

[Bhaijaan]

Its only a matter of respect for Sachin that his wicket remains priced by a world class bowler. I don't know why fans have to fight and insult both bowler and batsman here. Both are winners.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Tendulkar was always vulnerable to the in-dipper like Shafiq.

How did people miss this absolute gem of a post )

You sir are a legend

 

[marlonbrowndo]

How did people miss this absolute gem of a post )

You sir are a legend

I don't get it. Is it related to what Arthur said about Shafiq?

 

[Ultimate]

At the end of the day, shoaib isnt a legend.

Shoaib is a legend, Misbah is not.

 

[Sidilicious]

At the end of the day, shoaib isnt a legend.

Whats the level of a legend? After ATG or before it.

As in, is the rating the following?

ATG
Legend
Country legend
Good cricketer

If its the above, then Akhtar is definitely a legend. He is not ATG, but definitely a legend. Doesn't have the sheer numbers to back it up (in the post 70s era longevity is important to be called an ATG), but made it up by his impact.

 

[Mamoon]

Shoaib is most definitely a legend, but obviously not of Tendulkar's stature.

 

[ftbno1]

I believe this is a great compliment to Sachin that Shohaib prizes his wicket over many of his five wicket halls.

 

[waleed88]

Think that delivery to Dravid was regarded as the "ball of the century". Says how good those deliveries were.

Even though that was an outstanding delivery, the ball of the century is Wasim Akram to Rahul Dravid in the same series..

 

[JaDed]

IIRC he said somewhere he didn't even realize how big it was till he had come back to Pakistan to be greeted madly.

 

[waleed88]

Tendulkar was already a legend by then, he would go on to cement that status and establish his argument for potentially being the greatest years later.

Akhtar didn't fulfil his potential mainly due to his own doing (refusal to shorten run up and focus on movement and hedonistic lifestyle) but having the PCB as his employer never helped someone who was always looking for a sound leader to direct his career. Nevertheless, despite the many disappointments, he still churned out a career that would be described as legendary if not shortlived for one that was well over a decade long.

This moment along with Dravid's dismissal remains the definitive moment of Shoaib's career IMO.

Peak Shoaib was 1997-8 till 2003...

After that it was just histrionics and controversies..

Even during Shoaib's retirement... I'm not sure there were alot of articles that celebrated Shoaib AKhtar's stature in World Cricket...

Infact the articles that came out during that time on Shoaib AKhtar, especially the ones on cricinfo... described it as a career of 'what could've been after he bowled those two deliveries' and the disappointment at the way Akhtar turned out as a cricketer

 

[waleed88]

'There was nothing sustained about it, peaks occurring suddenly and randomly so that the memories are bright still: Kolkata, the 1999 World Cup, Colombo against the Australians, the 2005-06 England series to name a few. They are just not as plentiful.'

Cricinfo piece on Shoaib Akhtar's retirement...

 

[waleed88]

'With only 46 tests to show for a career spanning almost 14 years, Shoaib’s numbers reek of underachievement, particularly in light of promising mid-20s averages in both premier forms of the game. However, that’s all they are in danger of being viewed as – ‘promising’ but not ‘great’. To a detached observer, 178 test wickets would not warrant recognition on the same plain as the likes of Wasim and Waqar.'

 

[waleed88]

Rahul Dravid's account of the story is the most interesting to hear, always loved Dravid's reading of the game :

'I was batting with Sadagoppan Ramesh and we had been in for a while. Shoaib had come on to bowl and had completed a few overs when we had a drinks break. He was bowling sharp but not with much venom. I told Ramesh, "We've got a good partnership here. Let's keep it going. Shoaib generally bowls three or four good overs and after that we can cash in." The ball had just started to reverse swing a little bit.

First ball after drinks, bang! I saw it clearly as it left his hand - it looked like it was going to be overpitched. It started from outside off stump and came back in a long way. The ball was too good for me on the day.

I walked back to thunderous applause. Having scored only 24 runs, I found this a bit strange, till I realised it was for Sachin, who was coming out.

I had hardly settled down in the dressing room when there was a roar and then pin-drop silence. I looked up at the television screen in the dressing room, but I needn't have. You could sense what had happened. Because the television pictures are slightly delayed, I saw Sachin being bowled.

It was too good a ball to receive first up. I was set for a while and yet he got me. Sachin had no chance. Those two balls turned the Test match around.'

 

[Tera Gawaandi]

Unfathomable

Tendulkar was 25 only and already a legend. Alleged current age of Ahmed Shehzad.

Which bowler cherishes the wicket of 25 year old today?

Even Kohli is 28 and he is nowhere near to stardom of Sachin at 25.

That's something I'll tell the grandkids, for sure. It's almost time for me to hang up the boots. Moises Henriques took the prized wicket of the little master Sachin Tendulkar. Link

Chanaka Welegedara said its Sachin Tendulkar's prize scalp which he cherishes most. Link

Obviously for me it has got to be the prince of India, Sachin Tendulkar. I was absolutely delighted with that. Monty Panesar said that it was the wicket of the veteran batsman that he cherished the most. Link

Same with Rampaul and so many others, just Google.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

He absolutely owned Sachin with that gem. Silenced a billion Indians in a split second

We might see another SRT, but there won't be another Shoaib for a lot of years.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

See 'em again.

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Thanks for posting the video. Re-watched it thrice.

 

[Chrish]

Bas Kar na Yaar

Nothing surprising considering obsessing of SC fans for the game..

 

[cr7great]

great deliveries by shoaib
sachin stardom was something else

 

[The_Odd_One]

Sachin's dismissal that day was the most disappointing thing that day for Indian cricket fans. He came to the crease with a standing ovation and I remember the commentator called him the best batsman in the world. Then, that ball came, crowd was shocked, and Sachin was walking back to the pavilion.

 

[shariqnoor]

The feeling was also unmatched when Tendulkar demolished him at Centurion, and he chickened out like a coward. One of our major low-points of the decade. The most anticipated ODI for 4 years ending in tears.

Demolished him??? Chickened out??? Really??? It's not Shoaib's fault if Waqar pulled him out of the attack. Tendulkar scored 22 off 12 balls against Shoaib and Shoaib dismissed him in the end. No way was he "Demolished". A demolishing happens when McGrath got hit for 60 runs in 4-5 overs against Pakistan.

 

[Hitman]

Demolished him??? Chickened out??? Really??? It's not Shoaib's fault if Waqar pulled him out of the attack. Tendulkar scored 22 off 12 balls against Shoaib and Shoaib dismissed him in the end. No way was he "Demolished". A demolishing happens when McGrath got hit for 60 runs in 4-5 overs against Pakistan.

Wasim Akram has himself stated multiple times, even on camera, that Shoaib pleaded Waqar to be taken off the attack. In Shoaib's words, "Mere se bowling nahin ho rahin".

 

[troodon]

The two deliveries to Dravid and Tendulkar were imo the best sight in the history of Asian test cricket.

This I agree.

Dravid's delivery was unplayable. Most would get bowled. It was a reverse swinging yorker.

Sachin just missed a full toss. He did not get a chance to adjust to the pace of Shoaib. Played casually and before his bat came down, the ball was through.

After Wasim, to me Shoaib was the most destructive bowler I have seen. You simply cannot relax against them.

 

[troodon]

Rahul Dravid's account of the story is the most interesting to hear, always loved Dravid's reading of the game :

'I was batting with Sadagoppan Ramesh and we had been in for a while. Shoaib had come on to bowl and had completed a few overs when we had a drinks break. He was bowling sharp but not with much venom. I told Ramesh, "We've got a good partnership here. Let's keep it going. Shoaib generally bowls three or four good overs and after that we can cash in." The ball had just started to reverse swing a little bit.

First ball after drinks, bang! I saw it clearly as it left his hand - it looked like it was going to be overpitched. It started from outside off stump and came back in a long way. The ball was too good for me on the day.

I walked back to thunderous applause. Having scored only 24 runs, I found this a bit strange, till I realised it was for Sachin, who was coming out.

I had hardly settled down in the dressing room when there was a roar and then pin-drop silence. I looked up at the television screen in the dressing room, but I needn't have. You could sense what had happened. Because the television pictures are slightly delayed, I saw Sachin being bowled.

It was too good a ball to receive first up. I was set for a while and yet he got me. Sachin had no chance. Those two balls turned the Test match around.'

Dravid as Honest as ever.

 

[Buffet]

The feeling was also unmatched when Tendulkar demolished him at Centurion, and he chickened out like a coward. One of our major low-points of the decade. The most anticipated ODI for 4 years ending in tears.

Demolished him??? Chickened out??? Really??? It's not Shoaib's fault if Waqar pulled him out of the attack.

Akhtar refused to bowl. It was not Waqar who pulled him out.

---------------------------

“I thought I will bowl one wide and that he would pull me. But he cut me. Then I bowled on the leg, he flicked me. Then I bowled in the blockhole, he punched me straight. I told the captain, let me go,” says Shoaib Akhtar about Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 against Pakistan at Centurion during the 2003 World Cup.

http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/...-sachin-is-the-greatest-says-brian-lara-33574

------------------

I don't think that bowlers should be criticized for avoiding certain batsman. Batsmen often try to avoid certain bowlers when not feeling comfortable. It's better to not give free runs or free wicket.

 

[shariqnoor]

Wasim Akram has himself stated multiple times, even on camera, that Shoaib pleaded Waqar to be taken off the attack. In Shoaib's words, "Mere se bowling nahin ho rahin".

Akhtar refused to bowl. It was not Waqar who pulled him out.

---------------------------


“I thought I will bowl one wide and that he would pull me. But he cut me. Then I bowled on the leg, he flicked me. Then I bowled in the blockhole, he punched me straight. I told the captain, let me go,” says Shoaib Akhtar about Sachin Tendulkar’s 98 against Pakistan at Centurion during the 2003 World Cup.

http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/...-sachin-is-the-greatest-says-brian-lara-33574

------------------

I don't think that bowlers should be criticized for avoiding certain batsman. Batsmen often try to avoid certain bowlers when not feeling comfortable. It's better to not give free runs or free wicket.

Ok I stand corrected on the chickened out aspect. My mistake. But he certainly wasn't demolished as it is made out to be.

 

[sshakir411]

Yes he got tendulkar for zero, but how did the careers of both players turn out after that?

Tendulkar went on to become a legend.

Shoaib well...... we know he bowls fast, but thats about it

but Tendulkar was already a legend by 99...hence why the feeling was unmatched for Shoiab, the new kid on the block

 

[RamLakhan]

Probably that is the only moment Shoaib can relish in his entire career! Sachin has several several of such moments in his life. His record partnership in childhood to start with... facing Waqar in Pakistan at the start of his career.... many many.... 2 matches against Australia in Sharjah.... 100 scored after his father's funeral... reach 100 100s in career... why even smashing Shoaib & co with Sehwag.... playing important role even in that famous Kolkota test match (with the ball - picking those crucial wickets, otherwise Australia may well have drawn that test match!)... helping India to get over Pak (although not so comprehensive) and reach WC Finals & finally see that magic moment in finals....

Shoaib's this reference & memory/moral victory over Sachin is similar to the joy of Moon over Sun in Solar Eclipse event!

 

[sshakir411]

Lets not forget all the other times Shoaib got Sachin out..some Indian fans are making it seem like this was the only time this happened.

 

[Hitman]

Lets not forget all the other times Shoaib got Sachin out..some Indian fans are making it seem like this was the only time this happened.

Dismissed Sachin 5 times in ODI cricket, and 3 times in Test cricket. Even Sachin has dismissed Inzamam 5 times in ODI cricket, which holds ZERO significance, since its ODI cricket.

 

[zulfiqar]

Tendulkar was always vulnerable to the in-dipper like Shafiq.

Hhahahahahahha chah gaye!

 

[Hitman]

One bowler who can claim Sachin to be his bunny is James Anderson. No arguments from my side. Shoaib was such a talent, a talent not born every other day. But then again he himself has to blame for how his career turned out. Some people like Brett Lee and Jeff Thomson are blessed with speed but they lack the skills. Shaoib was someone who was blessed with not just incredible speed but also incredible skills. For his talent, he should have achieved so much more. A big loss not just for him and Pak cricket, but for the world of cricket in whole.

 

[RamLakhan]

The problem was there was no secondary skills once he lost his pace! Also the advent of modern rules favoring batsmen affected him (in fact affected most Pakistani bowlers!) And injuries affected him. Another reason could be he lost his best partners (Wasim, Waqar, etc). Bowlers will always be effective when they play together, support each other. This applies to Pakistan and most other good bowling units (Mc.Grath had great support, Donald had great support, Ambrose had great support! In fact their partners were almost as good as them!)

Another thing that affected him is the ego that went to his head! Some idiotic comments like Sachin & other Indian batsmen shiver in their legs when they play against him. Everyone knows that Sachin makes a lot of wedgie acts while he is batting. Shoaib was interested in these unnecessary acts to draw people's attention instead of concentrating on his own game. A kind of Sreeshanth (Sreeshanth is actually a mini/micro version of Shoaib!)

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

The problem was there was no secondary skills once he lost his pace!

When did he lose his pace? He was bowling in mid-90s until the last game of his career.

Also the advent of modern rules favoring batsmen affected him (in fact affected most Pakistani bowlers!) And injuries affected him. Another reason could be he lost his best partners (Wasim, Waqar, etc). Bowlers will always be effective when they play together, support each other. This applies to Pakistan and most other good bowling units (Mc.Grath had great support, Donald had great support, Ambrose had great support! In fact their partners were almost as good as them!)

Well said. Sami/Asif/Amir should have been there IMO.

Another thing that affected him is the ego that went to his head! Some idiotic comments like Sachin & other Indian batsmen shiver in their legs when they play against him. Everyone knows that Sachin makes a lot of wedgie acts while he is batting. Shoaib was interested in these unnecessary acts to draw people's attention instead of concentrating on his own game.

He also said (multiple times) that Sachin is a great player. And let's consider the possibility maybe SRT's legs were indeed shaking. No shame when you receive 95MPH thunderbolt on head. On a flat track (Faisalabad?).

A kind of Sreeshanth (Sreeshanth is actually a mini/micro version of Shoaib!)

Sreesanth might not bowl like a fast bowler. But he's got heart of one

 

[A.A.Z]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It was Matthew Hayden I wanted to hit badly during my playing days & I did that many times during test & practice games&now we r best mates.</p>— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) <a href="https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/889799152330317825">July 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Mp812]

Fane Villiers used to outfox SRT many times. I think even cronje got him few times. Hansie is in grave so he is not in position to recall SRT dismissals. But the number of times shoaib recalls his one dismissal perhaps even fdeveliers does not probably recall his SRT dismissals

 

[sshakir411]

Still remember Tendulkar's leg shaking when facing Akhtar....as confirmed by Afridi.

 

[Monsee]

He was the most priced wicket at that time. I remember reading somewhere that in one of the WC games, the news of Sachin getting out was directly delivered to Pakistani parliament in the middle of the meeting!

Also maybe up in heavens as well, right?