Sarfaraz advises Shoaib Akhtar to lose weight

Shoaib Akhtar should try to shed weight if he wants to prolong his international career,feels former skipper Sarfaraz Nawaz.

Controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar who has been withdrawn from Pakistan’s Twenty20 world Cup squad due to a skin infection,should try to shed weight if he wants to prolong his international career,feels former skipper Sarfaraz Nawaz.

“I think he has created problems for himself. I think he has another year of international cricket left in him but for that he has to shed weight and work hard,” Nawaz said.

Akhtar was withdrawn from the Pakistan squad on Thursday after a medical panel formed by the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed a skin infection,which the bowler had earlier complained about.

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“The problem is that there is too much emphasis on gym training for bowlers and as a result while the upper body of the bowlers is strong their legs are weak and they constantly face fitness problems,” said Nawaz who himself is a former fast bowler.

This is not the first time that the bowler has been dropped,withdrawn or pulled out of the national squad before a major event,raising serious doubts about his fitness.

Meanwhile,Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said 28-year-old Rao Iftikhar will be a good replacement for Akhtar.

“It is good that his (Akhtar) fitness position was clear. At least now we know where we stand as a team and I think Rao Iftikhar is an able replacement for Shoaib,” Intikhab said.

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He said that the medical examination of Shoaib had become necessary as he had not played any cricket or done training for the last 15 days.

“We had to be sure he was match fit for the World Cup. How can you judge a player’s fitness if he is not playing or even bowling in the nets,” Alam said.