Loser Shoaib celebrates personal victory

Shoaib Akhtar may have ended up on the losing side but he will surely remember Saturday's one-day international against Australia as a personal victory.

The Pakistan bowler, his career under a cloud just a few months ago after being reported for throwing, dispelled doubts that he would never operate again at top pace after his cameo performance at Cardiff.

Shoaib, who has been persuaded to remodel his action in recent months, finished with figures of one for 41 off five overs before retreating to the pavilion, vomiting and coughing up blood.

That did not suggest much to smile about after Australia's seven-wicket win in the triangular series encounter.

But the 25-year-old, dubbed the "Rawalpindi Express" and challenging for the unofficial title of the world's fastest bowler two years ago, hurried all the Australian batsmen before leaving the field feeling unwell.

The speed gun at the Cardiff ground timed one delivery unofficially at 97.7mph (157.2 kph), which would put him right up with Australian Brett Lee, currently regarded as the world's fastest strike bowler.

Adam Gilchrist and Inzamam-ul-Haq might be more reliable witnesses to Shoaib's progress on Saturday.

Gilchrist, opening the Australian innings, had made 13 when, late on his shot and beaten for pace, he saw his stumps shattered by Shoaib.

Team mate Inzamam, however, was probably involved in the most extraordinary incident of the match.

It came on the fourth ball of the eighth over.

Mark Waugh could only nick a Shoaib delivery to Inzamam, who looked well placed to take a shoulder-high catch at first slip.

The ball, however, ricocheted out of his hands and bounced just once before crossing the third-man boundary for an unlikely four runs.

Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed said after the game: "Shoaib is fine. The doctor's immediate reaction is that it's nothing serious, just over-exertion."

Shoaib, while cleared of throwing earlier in the year, has changed his bowling action to try and cut down the risk of injury posed by the unusual flexibility in his shoulder and elbow joints.

Earlier this week, Daryl Foster, who helped Shoaib change his bowling style and who worked with him during Pakistan's test series against England last month, suggested that Shoaib would take around a year to rediscover his pace.

"Give him six to 12 months and he will be back," he had said.

Inzamam's bruised fingers in Cardiff on Saturday suggested it might be much earlier.

Mail Cricket Editor