Shoaib leaves selectors in limbo

Controversial paceman Shoaib Akhtar, as expected, left several questions unanswered as Waqar Younis' team beat Rashid Latif's boys by 65 runs in the 90-over-a-side practice match spanning over two days at the National Stadium.

Shoaib picked up one wicket for 32 runs, which was not an issue of concern. But what surely left the selectors wondering was the showman's level of match fitness and form which in the past had cost Pakistan dearly.

The blue-eyed boy of the establishment, on whom millions of rupees have been spent in last two years, sent down 12 overs out of 65.5 in two spells and spent almost equal time in the dressing room as in the field.

He bowled at a lively pace in first of his five overs of the morning spell of 7-1-16-1 and accounted for an inexperienced Imran Farhat who mistimed a hook and was caught at mid-on. Shoaib, however, was nothing but a gentle medium pacer in his post-lunch spell of 5-2-16-0 and didn't take the field in the final session of the match.

It was certainly a depressing performance by Shoaib particularly after it had been claimed by the PCB officials that the express bowler was fighting fit and in top form.

The selectors would have also noticed that the high profile but mediocre Test performer bowled with a shortened run-up and was clearly upstaged by veteran Waqar Younis who bowled quick and displayed the art of swing bowling.

Shoaib, who preferred Lashings Club over the Pakistan team, on current performance, is certainly miles away from what he was in the 1999 World Cup and on the following tour to Australia. Maybe he will gradually pick up his pace and find the lost rhythm. But the million dollar question is when and what cost.

Shoaib needs to realize that if he has to cement his place in the team, he need to deliver it better than Wasim Akram who certainly got more points on the selectors score sheet after yesterday's outing. However, the star performer of the day, was local spinner Danish Kaneria. The leggie turned out to be a far better bowler than he was in the two Tests against England last year when he bowled 24 unchanged overs from the far end and was well rewarded with four for 70.

Kaneria bowled to a decent line and length and at times deceived the batsmen in the air.

On a day when most of the under observation players disappointed, Rashid Latif stroked a fine unbeaten 53 to slowly convince the "king makers" that he can be relied upon. He struck nine boundaries in his 65-ball innings.