http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Akhtar-c90080 set to retire after ICC World Cup 2011
The Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar has announced his retirement from international cricket after the ongoing ICC World Cup 2011.
Speaking to journalists in a press conference, Akhtar said, “I have decided to say goodbye. This World Cup is my last and the coming matches in the tournament would be the last few of my international career. Mentally I wanted to continue perhaps forever.
But I must make way for youngsters to take over."
He revealed that he made up his mind about retiring during Pakistan’s tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 just prior to the World Cup but chose to delay the announcement. His team-mates learnt of his decision on Thursday during a dressing room meeting, where he gave a farewell
speech.
Akhtar admitted that his team-mates always knew that he was thinking of leaving the game but were just not sure when he would be making the final call.
So far he has had a mixed performance in the 2011 World Cup. He bowled superbly against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045. Whether he
is given another chance to display his talents on the pitch depends on the management’s decision to include him in the remaining fixtures.
Akhtar confessed that he had never been the fittest player and was always marred by injuries because of which he was constantly in and out of the national squad. However, he reiterated that he always gave 100 percent for his team, even when he was not fully
fit.
The pacer has found himself in trouble with the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board (PCB) and the team management on numerous occasions because of his rebellious nature. He was mostly reprimanded for breaking the team curfew due to late night clubbing.
He thanked former Pakistan legends like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292 and Waqar Younis for helping him out and for being his idols.
Akhtar clearly looked emotional as he made the announcement. Shedding some light on his career his said that it was always a great honour for him to play for his country. He explained that it was the best moment of his life when he was selected to play for
Pakistan. Wrapping up the press conference he said, “Playing for Pakistan was a dream. Yes, it was a dream."
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