New Delhi: Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been battling serious recurring knee issues for most of his life. The former fast bowler missed a lot of cricket due to recurring knee problems. Akhtar's knee problem has been causing him trouble for almost last 11 years and he recently went for another surgery at a hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Akhtar took to Instagram to post a video, sharing his health update for his fans and well-wishers from a hospital bed in Melbourne.
An emotional Shoaib Akhtar can be seen telling his fans through the video that his knee surgery has been successful. The former pacer has also asked fans to pray that he gets well soon. In the video, Shoaib said that if he had not had knee problems, he could have played cricket for Pakistan for at least 4-5 more years.
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Akhtar, popularly known as the Rawalpindi Express, said, "I could have played for another four to five years. But I knew that if I did that, I would end up in a wheelchair. That's why I retired from cricket."
"Alhamdolillah, surgery went well. It will take some time to recover. Need your prayers. A special thanks to @13kamilkhan as well, he's a true friend who is looking after me here in Melbourne," Akhtar wrote in the caption of his Insta post.
Shoaib Akhtar played 46 Tests, 14 T20s, and 163 ODIs for the Pakistan cricket team. He has taken 178 wickets in red-ball cricket, 247 wickets in ODIs, and 21 wickets in T20Is. He is the first bowler in the history of cricket to bowl at a speed of 100 mph.