Did Shoaib Akhtar kick Kamran Akmal during World Cup?

Shoaib Akhtar and his tantrums are nothing new to the game of cricket. But, if reports coming in from Pakistan are to be believed, the speedster's behaviour hit a new low during the World Cup fixture against New Zealand when he apparently kicked Kamran Akmal after an on-field face-off. And this could now mean the Rawalpindi Express might not even be eligible for a farewell match.

Karachi: The Pakistan team management is averse to the idea of playing a 'farewell match' for controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

The News reported that Pakistani team officials will resist any move to bring Akhtar back in the national squad in the near future to give him an opportunity for a swansong appearance in a match.

"He (Akhtar) is far from fit to play international cricket. And the fact that another big reason why Pakistan opted against playing him in their key World Cup games, including the semifinal against India, was his poor behaviour, makes it almost impossible for the bowler to make a return even for one final match," The News quoted a source in the team as saying.

Recent reports have suggested that Akhtar, who announced his retirement in Sri Lanka during the World Cup last month, is making efforts to get a 'farewell match' most probably during the upcoming tour of West Indies. Pakistan will play one Twenty20 International, five One-day Internationals and two Tests during the series that will kick off on April 21 in St. Lucia.

Akhtar, 36, was a controversial inclusion in the 15-man squad for the World Cup but he did make his presence felt in the initial stages of the tournament. At one stage in the tournament, things were looking set for Akhtar, especially after his crucial spell against hosts Sri Lanka in the match that Pakistan won by 11 runs at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

But then came an ugly twist for the veteran fast bowler in Kandy just over a week later when wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal dropped New Zealand vice-captain Ross Taylor twice off Akhtar when on nought and four. Taylor went on to smash a match-winning century and in the process hit Akhtar for 28 in the bowler's ninth over which included a trio of sixes and two fours.