“Mohali memory still haunts me,” Akhtar’s recalls Pakistan’s loss in semi-final of 2011 WC

Whose name comes to your mind when you are told that a guy played for 14 years in International cricket with broken knees. Obviously, none other than the Rawalpindi-based former Pakistan bowling legend Shoaib Akhtar. Akhtar was known for his fiery pace, deadly bouncers, and stringing swing deliveries. He still holds the record of the fastest delivery in International cricket, which was recorded at 161.3 KMPH.

The legendary speedster announced his retirement from international cricket in 2011 after the ICC ODI World Cup. Recently, he expressed his regret and rues about Pakistan’s loss in the semi-final of the 2011 world cup against India.

Akhtar opened up on his disappointment for not being part of Pakistan’s playing XI against India in the must-win encounter of the world cup semi-final. The 2011 world cup ended as a nightmare for the former Pakistani legend.

India and Pakistan locked horns in the penultimate match of the tournament which was a must-win game for both the teams. The then Prime Ministers of both the countries attended the match. But that day, Pakistan went on the field without adding Shoaib Akhtar in the playing XI.

I am not the kind of person who cries but I’m the kind of person who breaks things - Akhtar

“I would have dismissed Sachin and Sehwag. India would have collapsed if Sachin and Sehwag were dismissed early. I was really really hurt. So see that match for 5-6 hours and watch Pakistan lose from the dugout…I am not the kind of person who cries but I’m the kind of person who breaks things. And I did break a few things in the dressing room because I was so sad, disappointed, and furious, and so was the entire nation,” Akhtar was quoted as saying to Sportskeeda.

“Mohali memory haunts me…that 2011 World Cup semi-final. They should have played me, they should have. It was completely unfair to the team management. I knew that I had just two matches left, and I had this desire that at Wankhede the Pakistan flag is held high and the team is playing the final. I knew that India was under immense pressure. The entire nation and the media were looking up to the team, which means we were the underdogs. So I believed that we shouldn’t have taken the pressure,” He added.

He coined the decision of management to exclude him as “unfair”, as he had a firm belief that he could have won the semi-final for Pakistan and had a desire to see his country’s flag flying at Wankhede after the final night. He also added that the hosts India were feeling a high intensity of pressure due to the burden of expectations from their own crowd.