Shoaib Akhtar: Cricket's Enfant Terrible

The Big Boy is in the news again.

The last time he was in trouble with Pakistan Cricket Board he was warned in writing that if he falters again he should expect a lifetime ban.

And he did. After agonizing deliberation the PCB banned him for five years. At age 32, that would effectively end his hurling career.

Now the fun begins.

Dr. Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman is a crony of embattled President Pervez Musharraf.

Politicians from Muslim League Nawaz faction jumped into the fray and demanded Shoiab Akhtar reinstated and Nasim Ashraf fired.

Backgrounder: Even though Pervez Musharraf grabbed power by default. Nawaz Sharif, the then PM had ordered Gen. Musharraf's plane be not allowed to land as he was returning from Sri Lanka. He had the Quaid e Azam International Airport runway blocked with fire engines. The Karachi Corps Commander sprung into action, removed the barricades, enabling Musharraf's plane, running out of fuel, to land and up north in Islamabad the infamous 111 Brigade deposed Nawaz Sharif. He was tried and in a plea bargain was exiled to Saudi Arabia. He holds a grudge against Musharraf since then.

And sensing that his senior partner Asif Zardari has outwitted him, Sharif is trying to attack Musharraf directly and through his perceived cronies. Imran Khan, former capitain and an ally of Sharif who did not participate in the February 18 elections has also joined the fray in asking for a resignation of Dr. Nasim Ashraf.

Emboldened by political support the enfant terrible is uttering things that will come to haunt him. He told Geo TV he was approached by bookies during the Indian and South African tours. “I have rejected many offers to under-perform. It happened in Johannesburg and India but I never accepted them as I can’t betray my country,” Akhtar said in an interview to Geo TV. ICC's (International Cricket Council) anti-corruption unit has indicated it wants to investigate these allegations.

Alex Brown wrote: One would hope Akhtar's ideals would prevent him from dragging the game through the mud for his own, selfish benefit, yet recent history suggests otherwise. This, after all, is the same fast bowler who claimed a high sex drive and a penchant for red meat were factors behind his positive test for the anabolic steroid nandrolone in 2006; the same man who slapped the late Bob Woolmer in public, hit one-time teammate Mohammad Asif with a bat, and constantly claimed to have been unable to play through injury while hitting dance floors with impressive vigour.

Since he earned his test cap he has missed in more tests than he played in. In the last several years his off field antics have earned him more headlines than his on field performance.

In a team sport he wants to be the solo banana. He was an excellent pace bowler once. With is best playing days behind him, his frustration is obvious. But his tendency to grab headlines at every cost and not dealing with his anger management issues may do him in this time.