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It is highly unlikely–considering his fitness record–that he would be able to represent the national team in the 201 World Cup.

It will be much better for him and also for Pakistan cricket that he should prove his claims by putting up performances for which we are waiting for long as during the 10 years of his international career he has played just 43 Test matches and taken only 169 scalps, which is ironic keeping in view his tall claims and potential.

It is very unfortunate that a player of his caliber could not serve Pakistan cricket in the manner which we were expecting after he started his career with a bang with and all cricket pundits and lovers of the sport were of the view that as the duo of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram was getting older with each passing day, this speed merchant would put up an end to all the fears regarding our declining supremacy in fast bowling.

But to the sheer disappointment of many across the country Shoaib could not live up to his reputation and the result is that after getting a golden opportunity following the retirement of Waqar and Wasim to spearhead Pakistan’s fast bowling department the has not been able to deliver the goods.

It will suit him if he keeps focus on his cricket, fitness and above all national integrity as due to his ‘heroics’ a lot of controversies have already undermined Pakistan cricket. the most notable among them is his alleged involvement in using performance enhancing drugs with fellow paceman Muhammad Asif. He is very lucky that he has escaped serious punishment amid strong rumors that he had in fact taken the drug for energy-boosting purpose.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has hinted that it would announce the name of the new coach by mid-July and in this connection Dav Whatmore has emerged as the most likely successor to the late Bob Woolmer. If he succeeded in getting the nod of the top management of the PCB, this will bring a radical change in our boys’ attitude towards the game and an improvement in their fitness level.