Akram proposes Akhtar to leave Test cricket
LAHORE: Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan captain and fast bowler, has suggested Shoaib Akhtar to surrender Test cricket to protract his international career by focusing on limited over cricket. Akhtar, meanwhile, due to knee injury has already been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
"He (Akhtar) should give up Test cricket," Akram told mediamen. "It’s a tough decision, but he need to call off his test career to lengthen his ODI career."
Akhtar, 33, has spent the best part of the last 12 months sitting out either due to injury or suspension. He last played for Pakistan in an ODI against India last November in Gwalior. He was selected to come back against West Indies in Abu Dhabi last year, but missed all three one-day International because of fitness problems.
Then returned to the ODI fold in the three-match series against Sri Lanka at home, but struggled to impress in the first two matches, even botched to bowl his full quota of ten overs.
"When I was in the same stage, like Shoaib Akhtar is in, during my career, I had surrendered. It is certainly a difficult decision but it does come once in your career, when you have to call," Akram concluded.