LONDON, June 20 (AFP) - Wasim Akram may or may not return home to Pakistan with the rest of his side after their Lord's humiliation in the cricket World Cup final.
A triumphant return to Islamabad and a rousing reception with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had been planned. It is now likely to be replaced by a more low-key affair.
Akram, who had been desperate to emulate his mentor Imran Khan by lifting the World Cup, is unlikely to relish the flight home.
After Pakistan were knocked out of the 1996 World Cup by arch-rivals India, Akram's father was kidnapped by angry fans, his effigy was set ablaze and his house stoned.
Akram, who earlier in the tournament hinted he might hang up his boots soon, already has enough off-pitch problems without having to deal with the fans' fury.
He and several other top players are the subject of a long-running judicial inquiry into match-fixing. The report is expected to be published soon, with life bans a possibility if anybody is found guilty.
A quiet summer here may be Akram's best option.
He was replaced as English county Lancashire's overseas signing by Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan this season after declaring himself unavailable. Now, with time on his hands, he will confine himself to the anonymity of club cricket in the English Midlands.
Sunday's disaster could not have been a greater contrast to the 1992 World Cup final.
Then, Pakistan had won the trophy after beating England by 22 runs at Melbourne.
Imran held the cup aloft that day. Akram stood by his side with the man-of-the-match award after belting 33 runs off 19 balls and taking three wickets for 49.
At Lord's, he scored one six off Shane Warne but, attempting a repeat when batting out the remaining overs seemed far more important than quick runs, he was dismissed for eight after facing 20 balls.
In Australia's reply, he was hit for 41 off eight overs. He took one wicket but did not even smile.
Akram's has been a tumultuous career. He first became Pakistan's captain in 1992 but was removed by a players' revolt.
He was back in charge in 1995 but stripped of the captaincy at the start of last year following the match-fixing allegations.
He announced his retirement in September, saying he wanted to clear his name, but, with the inquiry still going on, he was back in the team by October and, five months ago, he was re-instated as captain.
Odd to think that one of the world's greatest all-rounders, with more than 350 wickets in Test cricket and in one-dayers to his name, could end his days in the backwaters.
Next Saturday, Akram, his international future in the balance, will turn out for Smethwick, a village on the edge of Birmingham. |
