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Karachi: Shoaib Akhtar once said he loved to live life in the fast lane. On Tuesday, the quick bowler dubbed the 'Rawalpindi Express' saw his international career come to a shuddering halt, a victim of the heady concoction of fame, glamour and wealth which has damaged many athletes before him.
From attending showbiz Bollywood parties to winning Test matches, Akhtar was the most recognisable figure in Pakistan cricket after Imran Khan and Wasim Akram.
But he constantly fell foul of officialdom and has now learned to his huge cost no-one is above the law. Apart from the five-year ban imposed on him for repeated violations of discipline, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) damned his contribution as a player by saying it had lost confidence in the 32-year-old.
"We gave him a lot of chances to mend his ways but we want to protect our team and make it a disciplined unit," PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said.
Akhtar won many a match for Pakistan with his 178 Test and 219 one-day wickets but few cricketers have been in the headlines more than he has for indiscretions.
After returning from Australia in 2005 following fitness and disciplinary issues, he was asked why he kept getting involved in controversy and replied by saying he loved to live life in the fast lane.
The ban, providing he does not get it overturned on appeal, should signal the end of the international road for the pace bowler for whom defying authority was as normal a pastime as taking wickets.
Late nights
Akhtar made headlines for indiscipline before he had even played for Pakistan. On a trip to England with the A team in 1997 he fell foul of the tour manager for late nights. Akhtar had been picked for a one-day international series in Toronto the same year but was dropped from the squad when the board decided to act on the manager's report.
He made his Test debut later that year against West Indies before he was banned for an illegal bowling action in 1999. Akhtar was reported over his action for a second time in 2001 but kept coming back with a vengeance and lady luck also smiled on him when the governing body, the International Cricket Council, finally cleared him on medical grounds.
The paceman was instrumental in leading Pakistan to the 1999 World Cup final although he also had spells of below-par performances.
He went through regular fitness issues, constantly challenged authority and broke the rules but always escaped strong punishment because his lightning pace made selectors and captains believe he could be a match winner.
After being sidelined for more than a year because of injuries and differences with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer, Akhtar made a triumphant return against England in late 2005.
He took 17 wickets in three Tests to guide Pakistan to a series win. He showed similar form against India in early 2006, rattling Sachin Tendulkar with his speed and bowling Pakistan to another series victory before breaking down with a knee problem which required surgery.
For 18 months Akhtar played only one Test as he struggled again with fitness. In between he tested positive for a banned substance. He was suspended for two years before it was lifted on appeal.
He was again in trouble when returning to Pakistan's team after missing the 2007 World Cup, being sent home from the Twenty20 World Cup for striking teammate Mohammad Asif with a bat. Akhtar was given a ban of 13 international matches and put on a two-year probation.
Made the scapegoat
Meanwhile, Akhtar yesterday said he will go to court if necessary to challenge the five-year ban.
"If the board rejects my appeal I will go to the High Court and Supreme Court to get justice," said the bowler.
"I haven't murdered anyone, so why such a harsh penalty?"
Shoaib claimed he had been made the scapegoat after Pakistan's Test and one-day series defeats by rivals India at the end of last year. And he hit out at the PCB when he was not given one of the 15 central contracts in January, refusing to sign a special retainer contract on offer instead.
Akhtar, who was mobbed by fans during the news conference, added: "I will definitely be filing the appeal in the next two days and will follow the PCB procedure.
"I feel I have been personally victimised by the board. If I have committed any violation of discipline I should be told about it."
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