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Ill health forces Wasim Akram to break Hampshire contract
Wisden CricInfo Staff - July 15, 2003
Wasim Akram has been forced to quit his Hampshire contract for health reasons. He has played in only five of their eight Championship matches, and taken 20 wickets.
Wasim, who was on a one-year contract, made his decision today after having felt unwell over the past few months. His departure is with immediate effect and Hampshire have started looking for a replacement.
Wasim, a diabetic, is understood to have made the decision on advice from his doctors and has expressed his thanks to the club and his team-mates. He said he had enjoyed his brief stay with the club and wished it every success in the future.
John Crawley, Hampshire's captain, said: "His departure has come as a bit of a shock to us. He has been terrific this season, even if he has not quite been able to sustain his old fast-bowling aggression."
Paul Terry, the team manager, told BBC Sport, "He's been struggling for a bit. He's missed the odd game with various ailments through tonsilitis, fevers, stuff like that.
"He's just made the call that he needs to check out his health and has stopped playing straight away because of it."
He added: "We're very disappointed, but obviously the most important thing for him is to get his health right, so we accept that."
Tim Tremlett, Hampshire's director of cricket, said: "Wasim has proved to be a very valuable and popular member of the team and we are very sorry to be losing him at this stage in the season."
His absence will be a disappointment to Hampshire as he had been working well with the side's younger players. In five county championship games this year he headed the bowling averages with 20 wickets at 25.15.
However, he leaves Hampshire in a sticky position. They are yet to win a game in the County Championship and lie second from bottom in Division Two. And on the question of a replacement, Terry said: "We're currently having a look at the options - we haven't got any names to give out at the moment. We're having a look around to see what's available."
Meanwhile, on hearing the news, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, said he wished Wasim a speedy recovery to full health.
? Wisden CricInfo Ltd
Wisden CricInfo Staff - July 15, 2003
Wasim Akram has been forced to quit his Hampshire contract for health reasons. He has played in only five of their eight Championship matches, and taken 20 wickets.
Wasim, who was on a one-year contract, made his decision today after having felt unwell over the past few months. His departure is with immediate effect and Hampshire have started looking for a replacement.
Wasim, a diabetic, is understood to have made the decision on advice from his doctors and has expressed his thanks to the club and his team-mates. He said he had enjoyed his brief stay with the club and wished it every success in the future.
John Crawley, Hampshire's captain, said: "His departure has come as a bit of a shock to us. He has been terrific this season, even if he has not quite been able to sustain his old fast-bowling aggression."
Paul Terry, the team manager, told BBC Sport, "He's been struggling for a bit. He's missed the odd game with various ailments through tonsilitis, fevers, stuff like that.
"He's just made the call that he needs to check out his health and has stopped playing straight away because of it."
He added: "We're very disappointed, but obviously the most important thing for him is to get his health right, so we accept that."
Tim Tremlett, Hampshire's director of cricket, said: "Wasim has proved to be a very valuable and popular member of the team and we are very sorry to be losing him at this stage in the season."
His absence will be a disappointment to Hampshire as he had been working well with the side's younger players. In five county championship games this year he headed the bowling averages with 20 wickets at 25.15.
However, he leaves Hampshire in a sticky position. They are yet to win a game in the County Championship and lie second from bottom in Division Two. And on the question of a replacement, Terry said: "We're currently having a look at the options - we haven't got any names to give out at the moment. We're having a look around to see what's available."
Meanwhile, on hearing the news, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, said he wished Wasim a speedy recovery to full health.
? Wisden CricInfo Ltd
