Shoaib coming to Oman

Times News Service MUSCAT: Cricket superstar Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan will be in Oman for a brief visit this weekend. He will be leading the Ministry of Health’s walk to bolster its blood donation drive. The demand for blood has risen in Oman largely due to the increasing number of accidents and a clear expansion in the healthcare facilities. As the capital Muscat is growing in size and population, Ministry of Health plans to set up more blood donation centres to meet the growing demand.

Confirming arrival of Shoaib Akhtar, K.K. Ahsan Wagan, Deputy Head of Mission at Embassy of Pakistan, said the world’s fastest bowler will be the biggest attraction at the walk in Oman’s capital on May 2.

“Oman needs around 5000 litres of blood every month to meet the requirement and the ministry wants to invite more and more people to come forward and donate blood to save precious lives. Akhtar, a huge attraction, will be signing autographs for his fans during the walk,” he added.

The maverick paceman Akhtar bowled the world’s fastest ball ever recorded at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) against England on February 22, 2003 in a World Cup match at Cape Town which remains a world record in the Guinness Book.

Akhtar, who retired after the World Cup in 2011, stirred a huge controversy by saying Indian batting Sachin Tendulkar was scared of facing his scorching pace on a slow Faisalabad pitch, in his book Controversially Yours later that year.

Commenting on his retirement, Aussie great Ricky Ponting said Akhtar was the fastest bowler he ever faced.

Controversies apart, Akhtar’s success in cricket remains a huge tribute to his fighting instincts after being told by doctors that he was unfit for any sport due to his super flexible limbs.