Shoaib Akhtar's latest problem genital viral warts has made Pakistan's cricket fratenity question the fast bowler's extravagant lifestyle
Shoaib Akhtar's latest problem genital viral warts has made Pakistan's cricket fratenity question the fast bowler's extravagant lifestyle
Shoaib Akhtar pulling out on the eve of a major tournament on account of knee, back, groin injuries or even disciplinary problems has never been a big deal in Pakistan cricket.
Cricket lovers in Pakistan have come to expect this from the enigmatic fast bowler whose cricket career is as colorful as the "Holi" festival.
But yesterday Shoaib broke new ground when he was ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup after a medical board of the Pakistan cricket Board reported that he was suffering from genital viral warts.
The board consisting of a general surgeon and a dermatologist gave no further explanation of the exact nature of the disease but stated Shoaib has undergone electrofulguration (a procedure to destroy tissue using electric current) and his wound needs further care and treatment for at least 10 days.
Till the examination was done, Shoaib had said he was suffering from a skin infection. But now that the warts have been confirmed, a million questions have been raised given the lifestyle of the fast bowler.
Medline a trusted online medical information site decribes genital warts as "a viral skin disease." The site also says it is a a type of sexually transmitted infection and that the virus responsible for genital warts is called human papilloma virus.
Jeers and insults
Not surprisingly, the anti-Shoaib brigade is having a field day raising embarrassing questions which obviously no one is willing to answer.
Jeers and insults are not unexpected given Shoaib's lifestyle, his sexual escapades and his penchant for inviting his foreign girlfriends over to Pakistan.
"When you live life in the fast lane this is bound to happen," noted a former Test player.
Sources in the board say that Shoaib's disease was a complicated case and he would take time to recover from it.
"When the medical board examined him, they immediately told him he should forget about playing for a while and review his lifestyle," one source said.
For the time being, however, what is a fact is that a mega event like the T20 WorldCup was robbed off one of its most colorful and controversial characters.
However, Shoaib's absence might actually prove to be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan's chances of winning the World Cup.
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The last time he was sent home from South Africa before the T20 World Cup for having a brawl with Mohammad Asif and the team reached the final.
This time ironically both Shoaib and Asif are missing from the team. Asif is serving a ban for having tested positive for drugs and the other for having acquired a mysterious disease.
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