Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar has announced that he will retire from international cricket after the World Cup.
Rawalpindi Express coming to a halt at the end of the tournament
Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar has announced that he will retire from international cricket after the World Cup.
The 35-year-old - nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express for his long run-up and ability to bowl at high speeds - made his international debut in 1997.
Shoaib, who once clocked 100mph with a delivery in a one-dayer against New Zealand at Lahore in 2002, is believed to have informed team-mates of his decision at a training session in Colombo on Thursday.
"Yes, I will quit international cricket after the World Cup," he said in a statement.
"I have taken this decision after much thought. Pakistan's last match in this World Cup will also be my last. I hope that will be the final on April 2."
Controversial career
Shoaib featured in only 46 Tests, taking 178 wickets, as he found the rigours of five-day cricket tough on his body.
However, the right-arm paceman has played in 178 one-day internationals for his country, picking up 247 scalps with a best haul of 6-16.
His career has not been without moments of controversy, though; concerns have been raised in the past over his action while he has also had disciplinary issues, including hitting team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat in 2007.
Shoaib had found himself embroiled in a doping controversy the previous year, leading to him being dropped from the squad for the Champions Trophy. However, he had a two-year ban quashed.
The Pakistan Cricket Board then suspended the paceman for five years in 2008 after he publicly slammed the board for excluding him from the list of centrally-contracted players, although the ban was cut to 18 months on appeal.
Despite struggling with his fitness after knee surgery in Australia two years ago, he was still selected in Pakistan's 15-man squad for the World Cup.
So far his performances have been mixed. He has picked up just three wickets and conceded 28 runs in one over against New Zealand.
