Former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram believes Shoaib Akhtar needs a miracle if he is to revive his career.
Akhtar, once the fastest bowler in the game, has been involved in several high-profile controversies in recent years and, having been left out of the squad for the upcoming one-day series in Sri Lanka as well as the Champions Trophy probables, it appears his international career is over.
The injury-prone 33-year-old said this month that he may sue the Pakistan Cricket Board after they released his medical report when he was ruled out of the World Twenty20, and Akram feels that has put paid to any hopes of a return.
"I don't think he has got a chance unless and until some miracles happen," he said.
"Even though it depends on the captain and selectors, I think Shoaib has fallen out with the selectors and the cricket board itself.
"This cricket board still supported him and he went to Abu Dhabi and played two of the five games (against Australia in April and May) before getting injured again. We all saw that."
Future
Akram, 43, also suggested that Akhtar's exclusion may even be the right decision purely on a sporting level.
"I think Pakistan's bowling unit is doing well and they have to look ahead and think about the future," he said.
"They have to back the youngsters who will do the job for them.
"I don't know where you can place Shoaib Akhtar in the current picture of Pakistan cricket."
Akhtar has taken 178 test wickets and 223 ODI wickets in his career.
